The Cuban administration rejected the accusations regarding the US seizure of biodiesel shipments prepared to be sent to the country in September.
Cuban Minister of Energy and Mines Vicente de la O Levy, in an exclusive interview with Reuters in his office in the capital Havana, claimed that the Cuban government had no connection with the fuel shipments stopped by the US authorities.
The US administration announced last week that 90 separate biodiesel shipments with a total value of approximately 3 million dollars were seized.
Washington claimed that the shipments were carried out within the framework of contracts related to the Cuban state energy company ENETEC, which is under US sanctions.
"NO FUEL CONTRACT WAS SIGNED"
Stating that he had no information about the shipments stopped by the US Department of Homeland Security, de la O Levy stated that no contract was made with ENETEC.
The Cuban Minister said, "We can guarantee that no contract of any kind has been made with ENETEC S.A.. No state company in Cuba has managed to conclude a contract for the supply of fuel in small or large quantities."
The US administration, on the other hand, defends the view that the shipments in question violate sanctions.
The restrictions imposed by the United States on oil shipments to Cuba after kidnapping Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro from his country in January further aggravated the energy crisis in the country.
In addition to fuel, electricity and water shortages, rising prices have made living conditions difficult in Cuba and increased humanitarian crisis concerns.
While the Washington administration has allowed the shipment of gasoline and diesel fuel to the private sector in Cuba since the beginning of the year, it has banned shipments to government institutions.
Although fuel imports from US companies have increased in recent months, they remain far behind the country's total needs.
"IT CANNOT MEET EVEN 3 PERCENT OF ITS FUEL NEEDS"
Cuban Minister of Energy and Mines de la O Levy emphasized that the amount of fuel coming from the USA is far from meeting the country's energy needs.
"I can say that the amount entering the country does not even meet 3 percent of the fuel need," the minister said.
The Cuban administration and the United Nations describe US practices to limit fuel shipments as contrary to international law.
The Washington administration continues its policy of economic pressure on the Cuban government.
Despite the energy crisis, the Cuban administration aims to continue nickel and cobalt mining, which are among the country's important sources of income.
According to the data of the US Geological Survey, Cuba is among the world's important cobalt producers and also has large nickel reserves.
The extraction of these minerals, which are of strategic importance for electric vehicles and battery production, is becoming difficult due to US sanctions.
Canadian company Sherritt International has been operating jointly with the Cuban government in Moa, the country's largest mine, for more than 30 years.
However, the company announced at the beginning of the year that it was suspending its activities due to US sanctions.
Sherritt announced in May that it had signed a non-binding agreement with US-based Gillon Capital to sell its share in mining operations in Cuba.
Ray Washburne, a long-time supporter of US President Donald Trump, is the vice president of Gillon Capital.
STATEMENT ABOUT US COMPANY'S MINING INVESTMENT
The Cuban Minister emphasized that the possible share sale does not mean a direct transfer of the joint venture established with the Cuban government.
"We have always made it clear that what the US company will purchase is Sherritt's shares, not the share in the joint venture," De la O Levy said.
Stating that the Cuban government is positive about continuing the activities within the framework of the existing joint venture rules, the Minister stated that important problems must be solved in order to restart production.
He noted that issues regarding the supply of fuel and spare parts and the payment of export revenues and production expenses should be discussed between the parties.
SOLAR ENERGY MOVE FROM CUBA
Stating that they turned to renewable resources against the energy crisis, de la O Levy announced that 144 solar power plants with a total installed power of 1,418 megawatts have been commissioned in recent years.
He said that these investments contributed to the continuation of electricity production during daylight hours despite the US's fuel restrictions.
Stating that Cuba's domestic oil production is stable, the Minister stated that almost all of the production is used in thermal power plants.
Approximately 40 percent of the electricity production in the country is provided by domestic oil.
Explaining that electric transportation has become widespread, de la O Levy stated that there are more than one million electric motorcycles and three-wheeled vehicles in the country.
He also said that renewable energy systems have been installed in small health centers, maternity hospitals, nursing homes and funeral service facilities.
Regarding the work carried out against the energy crisis, the Cuban Minister made the following assessment: "We are progressing step by step with our solutions, but not as fast as we would like."
