{"id":42498,"date":"2026-05-23T07:15:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-23T14:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/?p=42498"},"modified":"2026-05-26T08:44:53","modified_gmt":"2026-05-26T15:44:53","slug":"cuba-needs-a-long%e2%80%91term-solution-to-its-energy-crisis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/cuba-needs-a-long%e2%80%91term-solution-to-its-energy-crisis\/","title":{"rendered":"Cuba needs a long\u2011term solution to its energy crisis"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Luisa Blanco<\/a>, Pepperdine University<\/a><\/em>; Institute for Humane Studies<\/a><\/em> and Isabella Elias<\/a>, Pepperdine University<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cuba has run out of oil<\/a>, the country\u2019s energy minister announced on May 14, 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It marks a new depth to the island\u2019s energy crisis, which has gotten worse in recent months<\/a> amid the tightening of U.S. sanctions<\/a> imposed in January 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on May 13 that the U.S. continues to be ready to offer humanitarian assistance<\/a> of up to US$100 million \u2013 but only if Cuba reforms its communist government. The State Department did not provide many specifics, but according to Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami, who is involved in the discussions on behalf of the Catholic Church in its role as distribution partner of U.S. aid, a regime change would be necessary<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But at current prices, this aid would buy only about 20 days\u2019 worth of oil for the island nation, covering a mere 5% of Cuba\u2019s annual oil import<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As an economist specializing in Latin America<\/a> and a master\u2019s candidate in public policy<\/a>, we believe that the broader history of Cuba\u2019s energy sector sheds some light on the current situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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