A significant fire erupted at the Nico Lopez oil refinery in Havana Bay on Friday, threatening to intensify Cuba’s ongoing energy crisis as the nation grapples with a US-imposed fuel blockade. While the blaze originated in a storage warehouse rather than near critical oil tanks, the incident highlighted the country’s precarious energy situation.
Cuban authorities confirmed the fire has been fully extinguished with no casualties reported. The Ministry of Energy and Mines stated that operations at the facility have returned to normal while investigations continue into the cause. The incident occurred near two oil tankers docked in Havana harbor, though the flames did not spread to adjacent areas.
This industrial accident compounds Cuba’s severe economic challenges, particularly its dependence on imported fuel. The nation historically relied on Venezuelan oil imports, but these shipments ceased following last month’s abduction of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro by US forces. President Donald Trump’s recent executive order further enables trade tariffs against any country supplying oil to the island nation.
The fuel shortage has triggered widespread power outages across Cuba, disrupting public transportation and forcing reductions in hospital staffing. Educational institutions have limited operations, government employees work four-day weeks, and some hotels have temporarily closed.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recently warned of potential humanitarian collapse in Cuba without immediate energy assistance. The arrival of two Mexican naval vessels carrying over 800 tons of humanitarian aid to Havana on Thursday underscores the growing international concern.
Maritime tracking experts report no foreign fuel tankers have reached Cuban ports in weeks, leaving the country capable of producing only one-third of its total fuel requirements domestically. Cuban Vice Foreign Minister Carlos de Cossio accused the US of implementing “collective punishment” against the Cuban people, stating that fuel shortages damage transportation, healthcare, education, power generation, food production, and overall living standards.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has criticized Washington’s oil restrictions as “unjust” while advocating for renewed dialogue between Cuba and the United States.