<div dir="ltr">
<div class="gmail-top-anchor"></div>
<div id="gmail-toolbar" class="gmail-toolbar-container">
<span name="selected"></span>
</div>
<div class="gmail-container" lang="en-US" dir="ltr">
<div class="gmail-header gmail-reader-header gmail-reader-show-element">
<a class="gmail-domain gmail-reader-domain" href="https://www.telesurenglish.net/cuba-responds-to-u-s-oil-blockade-with-energy-self-sufficiency-plan/">telesurenglish.net</a>
<div class="gmail-domain-border"></div>
<h1 class="gmail-reader-title">Cuba Responds to U.S. Oil Blockade With Energy Self-Sufficiency Plan</h1><br></div>
<hr>
<div class="gmail-content">
<div class="gmail-moz-reader-content gmail-reader-show-element"><div id="gmail-readability-page-1" class="gmail-page"><div>
<p><img width="539" height="303" src="https://ikona.telesurenglish.net/content/uploads/2026/02/Cuban-President-Miguel-Diaz-Canel-1-768x432.jpg.webp" alt="" class="gmail-moz-reader-block-img" style="margin-right: 0px;"></p><p>Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel. Feb. 5, 2026. Photo: EFE</p>
<hr>
</div><div>
<p>
February 5, 2026</p>
</div><div>
<h2>President Diaz-Canel says no fuel has reached his country since December.</h2>
<p>On Thursday, President Miguel Diaz-Canel announced that Cuba has a
strategy to expand the use of its own energy sources in response to the
crisis caused by the U.S. blockade on oil shipments to the island.</p>
<p><strong><em>RELATED:</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em><a href="https://www.telesurenglish.net/cuba-is-open-to-dialogue-with-the-u-s-without-pressure-diaz-canel/">Cuba is Open to Dialogue With the U.S. Without Pressure: Diaz-Canel</a></em></strong></p>
<p>Since Dec. 3, when the U.S. began a naval blockade against Venezuela,
Cuba has not received a single drop of fuel- This situation has had a
broad impact on public health, the economy, transportation, and
electricity generation.</p>
<p>Diaz-Canel denounced an intensification of U.S. pressure as part of
an \u201ceconomic suffocation\u201d strategy, which is aimed at sowing fear among
oil shipping companies and international suppliers. Nevertheless, his
administration is working to ensure that this new form of external
aggression has the least possible impact on the Cuban people and
economy.</p>
<p>\u201cCuba will not renounce receiving fuel. It is a sovereign right,\u201d
Diaz-Canel stressed, adding that surrender is not an option and making
clear that the U.S. has no right to impose its economic warfare on the
Caribbean island or on third countries.</p>
<p>The Ministers Council approved guidelines for a contingency plan
designed to confront attempts at economic strangulation. Diaz-Canel
acknowledged that while temporary restrictions on consumption and
increased energy savings will be necessary, those measures will not be
permanent.</p>
<p>The Cuban government\u2019s response is based on a comprehensive strategy
to transform the energy matrix, including the recovery of electricity
generation capacity \u2014 more than 900 megawatts have been restored \u2014 the
use of domestic energy sources, increased storage capacity affected by
the accident at the Matanzas supertanker base, higher national crude oil
production, electricity generation from associated petroleum gas and
the development of a national shipping fleet.</p>
<p>In 2025, Cuban authorities completed the construction of 49
photovoltaic solar parks, adding about 1,000 megawatts to the country\u2019s
energy supply. Currently, those parks are generating 38% of the national
energy, at a time when Cuba has been unable for several weeks to rely
on distributed generation due to fuel shortages.</p>
<p>Diaz-Canel said 5,000 photovoltaic systems of 2 kilowatts each are
being installed in an equal number of homes that previously lacked
electricity, which will allow Cuba to reach 100% electrification.</p>
<p>Another 5,000 photovoltaic systems are also being installed at
prioritized service centers, including maternity homes, nursing homes,
senior centers, polyclinics, residences for vulnerable children and bank
branches, among others.</p>
<p>Authorities are also distributing another 10,000 photovoltaic systems
to workers in the education and health sectors, while new investments
in wind power generation capacity are underway. The Cuban government
also expects to increase production of associated petroleum gas and
supply manufactured gas to 20,000 new customers in Havana.</p>
<p>The Cuban president recalled that successful tests were conducted in
December for refining crude oil and producing derivatives, as well as
for acquiring engines capable of using that fuel.</p>
<p>While none of these actions alone solves the problem immediately,
they allow for changes in the energy matrix and help prevent the
situation from becoming more severe. \u201cThe will to resist, recover and
create will include expanding local production of goods and services,\u201d
Diaz-Canel said.</p>
<p>His remarks come amid a growing diplomatic offensive in international
forums, where Cuba has systematically denounced the economic, social
and humanitarian impacts of the U.S. blockade, which has been in place
for 64 years as a policy of \u201ccollective punishment\u201d.</p>
<p>\u201cWhat does it mean to prevent fuel from reaching a country?\u201d
Diaz-Canel asked, before pointing out that it is a measure that directly
affects the lives of millions of people. He reiterated, however, that
surrender is not an option and that Cuba will not renounce its sovereign
right to receive fuel.</p>
<p>In his most recent report to the United Nations General Assembly
(UNGA), Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez denounced that between March
2024 and February 2025, damages caused by the U.S. blockade totaled
US$7.5 billion, representing a 49% increase over the previous period.
Cumulative losses now exceed US$171 billion.</p>
<p><strong><em>teleSUR/ JF </em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>Source: teleSUR</em></strong></p>
<p><br></p>
</div></div></div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div></div>
</div>
<br></div>