Cuba’s electric workers celebrate their colleagues during massive May Day rally

Tens of thousands of Cubans gathered along Havana’s iconic seawall Friday to celebrate International Workers’ Day, with special recognition given to those maintaining the nation’s struggling power system during an unprecedented energy crisis.

Workers from Cuba’s Electric Union have been working around the clock as the island’s deteriorating power grid continues to cause widespread blackouts. These outages have been exacerbated by severe fuel shortages, which officials attribute to U.S. sanctions restricting oil imports.

“We are living through difficult times,” said Yunier Meriño Reyes, an accountant with the Electric Union who participated in Friday’s march. “We are carrying out a very tough, arduous and relentless effort — day and night — to provide electricity to the people who need it.”

Cuba’s energy situation deteriorated sharply in early January when oil shipments from Venezuela, a critical supplier, were interrupted. The crisis deepened when the U.S. reportedly threatened tariffs against any country providing oil to Cuba, effectively cutting off the island from its main energy sources.

For more than three months, Cuba received no oil shipments whatsoever, forcing the country to rely solely on limited domestic resources including natural gas, minimal solar power, and aging thermoelectric plants. Vicente de la O Levy, Cuba’s energy and mines minister, described this period as “brutal” in recent statements to reporters.

Relief came in late March when a Russian tanker carrying 730,000 barrels of oil docked in Cuba, though the fuel required approximately two weeks of refining before it could be utilized.

“We have been working eight hours a day without stopping,” said Rafael Martínez, a worker at Cuba’s Petroleum Union. Recalling the arrival of the Russian tanker, he expressed the relief felt throughout the industry. “Our job is to push ahead, that’s all you can do,” he added as colleagues celebrated around him with cowbells and drums during the May Day festivities.

The petroleum sector’s critical role in Cuba’s economy was highlighted by driver José Antonio Báez in a recent video released by the Cuban Petroleum Union. “Our work generates the entire economy of the country. We drive the country’s economy,” he stated.

The shutdown of refineries for four months created significant technical challenges. Pedro Luis López Manzano, maintenance director at the Cienfuegos refinery, explained that extensive preparations were needed to restart operations. “It’s a challenge, but we always thought it was possible,” he said.

Some workers have been openly critical of U.S. policy. Gustavo Rodríguez Cordero, an engineer and director general at Cuba’s Petroleum Union in Villa Clara, stated in a company video that “no one has the international right to oppress a people in this manner,” referring to the energy restrictions.

Once refined, the government strategically allocated the limited fuel to essential sectors. De la O Levy explained that agriculture and food production were prioritized, enabling irrigation for critical crops including tobacco, corn and soybeans. This decision meant accepting longer power outages for residential areas to prevent production facilities from remaining idle.

Approximately 6,000 tons of the petroleum was converted to diesel and fuel oil specifically for powering hospitals, generators and transportation. Starting April 17, the situation showed modest improvement, with the government distributing 800 tons of fuel daily, still only half of the 1,600 tons actually needed.

The minister acknowledged this difficult balancing act: “If we used 1,600 tons, there would be fewer blackouts, but the fuel would last half as long.” He warned that the Russian oil supply was expected to last only until the end of April, emphasizing that sustaining the island’s thermoelectric plants with domestic crude oil remains the priority. “Without this fuel, we would face a total, systemwide blackout,” he cautioned.

The situation highlights Cuba’s energy vulnerability, as the country produces only 40% of its required fuel and depends heavily on imports. Despite these challenges, workers remain committed to their mission.

Katiusca Carreño, 53, who works at the Electric Union’s command center, expressed determination after Friday’s rally: “Resources aren’t reaching us, but all of us workers are still here. It’s hard, but not impossible. We work 24 hours a day.”