Up to earlier this week Venezuela’s state-run oil company PDVSA was preoccupied with preparing a long overdue shipment of a 190,000-barrel cargo of diesel for shipment to Cuba in what, reportedly, was a bid to help its closest political ally in the region stave off fuel shortages that could have serious implications for electricity generation during the first half of this year
Cuba relies on fuel imports to cover the majority of its overall fuel demand and reportedly has not received diesel from Venezuela since last September, causing the country to have to resort to higher prices on the open market. Accordingly, Cuba has been challenged this year to respond to its diesel deficit for both power generation and vehicles, the across-the-board reduction in fuel imports from Venezuela at concessionary prices leaving the government with little option but to make purchases at exorbitant prices.
Reports from Venezuela indicate that up to two days ago the Cuba-flagged tanker, Delsa, was reportedly being loaded was being loaded with 200,000 barrels of fuel oil and 190,000 barrels of diesel for shipping to the country’s Matanzas Storage Terminal.
Cuba has been significantly affected by fuel shortages which have reportedly impacted some of the important sectors of the country, manifesting itself in transportation challenges.
