The Russian tanker Anatoly Kolodkin docked Tuesday, March 31, at the Cuban port of Matanzas carrying about 730,000 barrels of oil, the first oil tanker to reach the island in three months, the Associated Press reported. The shipment was permitted to proceed by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump despite an ongoing U.S. energy blockade, and its arrival was met with cheers from Cubans, including Energy and Mines Minister Vicente de la O Levy.
Cuba faces a severe shortage of petroleum that has deepened an already serious economic crisis, officials say, leaving residents coping with prolonged blackouts and shortages of food and medicine. The island produces roughly 40 percent of the fuel it needs and depends on imports to keep its power grid and transportation running.
Experts cited by AP estimate the cargo could yield about 180,000 barrels of diesel — roughly enough to meet Cuba’s daily diesel demand for nine to ten days — offering only short-term relief rather than a lasting fix to the supply gap.
Historically, Cuba received most of its oil from Venezuela, but those deliveries were halted after U.S. actions against Venezuela, further straining Cuba’s energy supplies. The Matanzas delivery underscores both the fragility of Cuba’s fuel security and the immediate, limited respite a single tanker can provide. (AP)
Original Source: https://theshillongtimes.com/2026/04/01/russian-oil-tanker-reaches-cuba-despite-us-energy-blockade/
Category: INTERNATIONAL
Tags:
Publish Date: 2026-04-01 05:08:00
