Putin approves supply of 80,000 tons of fuel to Cuba

Russia has announced a $60 million diesel shipment to Cuba during bilateral meeting in Havana.The Russian assistance, authorized directly by President Vladimir Putin, represents an international effort to help stabilize Cuba’s energy sector.

The announcement of the supply of Russian fuel was made during the Meeting of the Co-Chairs of the Intergovernmental Commission for Economic-Commercial and Scientific-Technical Collaboration, which began sessions in Havana. The bilateral meeting is headed by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko and Cuban Deputy Prime Minister Ricardo Cabrisas.

“Following instructions from our president, Vladimir Putin, Russia is ready to provide emergency assistance to sister Cuba in connection with the current situation in the energy sector,” Chernyshenko said during the bilateral meeting. The Russian assistance follows a significant collapse of Cuba’s electric power system on October 18, which left much of the country without electricity for approximately 72 hours. Electricity service was not restored until the early hours of October 21.

According to the latest report from Cuban energy authorities, issued on November 1, the island continues to experience a deficit in electricity generation, although they have ruled out the possibility of a new disconnection from the national grid.

The Russian assistance, authorized directly by President Vladimir Putin, represents an international effort to stabilize Cuba’s energy sector, which has faced serious challenges due to the lack of fuel and the deterioration of its electricity generating facilities as a result of the economic blockade imposed by the U.S. government. The effort also comes at a time when Cuba is recovering from two major hurricanes that have recently hit the island.

Source: Resumen Latinoamericano – Buenos Aires