Cuba’s Energy Official Denies Government Involvement in US-Seized Biodiesel Shipments

Cuba's top energy official stated there was no connection between the nation's communist-run government and biodiesel shipments intercepted by US authorities in September. The official rejected US allegations that Cuba participated in those deals.

US authorities reported seizing 90 biodiesel shipments valued at nearly $3 million under contracts with a sanctioned Cuban state energy trader named ENETEC during a recent crackdown on alleged illegal fuel shipments to Cuba.

Cuban Minister of Energy and Mines Vicente de la O Levy confirmed he had no awareness of any biodiesel shipments intercepted by the US Department of Homeland Security.

The Cuban government asserted that no state-owned company had secured fuel contracts for any quantity, whether small or large.

Cuba faces severe fuel, water, and electricity shortages alongside rising prices, pushing the nation toward a humanitarian crisis.

The US permits fuel exports to Cuba's private sector but prohibits shipments to the government since early this year.