Cuba Rejects US Embassy’s Request for Diesel to Keep Generators Running

Cuba has rejected a request from the US Embassy in Havana to import diesel for its generators, the Washington Post reported Friday.

The refusal comes as U.S. President Donald Trump continues to maintain a fuel blockade on the island, and U.S. officials say the embassy may have to cut staff if its reserves run out.

Cuba has been relying on natural gas, solar power, and limited domestic oil to keep its power plants running, but supplies are still not enough to meet demand.

ABC News reports that the island is set to receive Russian oil later this month, its first shipment in three months, while humanitarian groups from countries including Mexico are flying in food, medicine, and solar panels.

For now, the US Embassy has enough diesel to last about a month.

The issue comes as fuel prices rise globally following joint strikes on Iran launched by the U.S. and Israel late last month. In response, Iran has largely closed off the Strait of Hormuz, a key passageway for vessels carrying oil in the Middle East. As a result, oil prices have surged past 100 U.S. dollars per barrel after averaging below that before the crisis.