Sanctions on GAESA leave Cuba with 22 hour daily power cuts

Cuba’s fuel crisis deepens under fresh sanctions

President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14404 took effect May 1, 2026, giving the U.S. a broader sanctions tool aimed at Cuba’s energy, defense, metals, mining, financial services and security sectors. The State Department used that authority on May 7 to designate GAESA, the military-linked conglomerate that sits at the center of Cuba’s tourism and transport networks.

Cuba’s energy minister says the island has run through its diesel and fuel-oil reserves. Authorities have responded with longer blackouts, reduced public transport, shorter school hours and cutbacks across parts of the tourism sector. Some areas are seeing outages of 20 to 22 hours a day.

Travelers and remote workers are feeling the squeeze

Tourists, expats and digital nomads are dealing with fewer flight options, higher taxi fares and frequent last-minute changes. Canada advises against non-essential travel, while the UK says only essential travel should go ahead because fuel and power shortages are disrupting transport, communications and basic services.

Airlines including Air Canada, Air Transat, WestJet and KLM have suspended or cut service to Cuba, often because airports can’t reliably provide jet fuel. That has made onward movement and departure planning harder, especially for travelers relying on domestic flights or inter-island connections. Follow visa updates for more travel policy coverage.

What to do before moving around Cuba

Plan for long delays, fuel rationing and possible cancellations. Cuba has capped petrol purchases at 20 liters per vehicle and temporarily halted diesel sales, so ground transport can be slow, expensive and hard to book.

Keep devices charged, carry essential medication and build in a large buffer for any trip to an airport, hotel or bus terminal. U.S. citizens should also check that any Cuba travel fits an authorized category under the embargo and enroll in STEP for embassy alerts.

Read our full Cuba guide for the complete picture.