Cuba's fuel crisis deepens: Ships stranded, protests rise
Faced with a fuel shortage, Cuba lacks the funds for imports, as independent Cuban media reported on Thursday regarding the issues with unloading the cargo ship PVT Clara. The ship set sail from the Russian city of Kaliningrad towards the Caribbean island in mid-September.
According to the 14ymedio portal, despite the Cuban government's announcement of the ship's arrival at the port in Havana in early October, the vessel waited for unloading at the anchorage for about six weeks.
Findings by 14ymedio and Radio Martí indicate that the Cuban government, grappling with a severe energy crisis, has a very limited budget for fuel imports. Independent media have determined that this is the reason for the prolonged waiting times for tankers at anchorages.
Similar circumstances affect Eco Merlin's ship, transporting about 35 million litres of liquefied natural gas. According to 14ymedio, the vessel has been waiting near the Cuban coast for almost seven weeks. The fuel shortage is worsening disruptions in power and water supplies on the island, stirring anti-government sentiments.
The portal reported that the Cuban authorities are concealing the long wait times for fuel transport ships to access the port.
The Havana regime provided false information
It was also revealed that, regarding the ship from Kaliningrad, the regime in Havana falsely informed the public that the vessel arrived on the island with a cargo of "vegetable oil."
According to Radio Martí, more than 80 anti-government demonstrations have taken place in Cuba over the past month due to widespread energy and fuel shortages.
On November 6, Hurricane Rafael caused a total blackout in the Caribbean, home to over 10 million people. In mid-October, Cuba experienced a power outage due to a power plant failure, and energy supplies were gradually restored over several days. Meanwhile, Hurricane Oscar struck the island, resulting in the deaths of at least eight people.
The social and economic situation in Cuba is currently considered the worst since the revolution led by Fidel Castro in the 1950s. There is a shortage of electricity and essential goods, including food, medicine, and fuel.
