Kingston is a regular supplier to Havana, but chose to comply with Trump’s decree threatening tariffs on countries that deliver fuel to the island
14ymedio, Havana, February 1, 2026 – After weeks of apparent inactivity, the tanker Emilia, dedicated to transporting liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) under the Cuban flag, began moving again. However, far from bringing relief, its arrival at the port of Cienfuegos confirmed the worst possible scenario: the vessel arrived empty.
As confirmed to 14ymedio by expert Jorge Piñón, an energy expert at the University of Texas, the Emilia had departed from Santiago de Cuba with the intention of loading LPG in Jamaica, one of its regular suppliers. The destination was the port of Kingston. But the plan was derailed by a lethal combination of timing and politics. The ship reached Jamaican waters just hours before the new executive order by President Donald Trump went into effect. The decree, effective at 12:01 a.m. (Eastern Time) on January 30, 2026, sanctions all countries that send fuel to Cuba.
Maritime tracking data confirm the failure of the operation. VesselFinder records show that the Emilia never docked in Kingston. It approached with a draft of 8.4 meters and departed with exactly the same draft: an unmistakable sign that it did not load fuel. It entered Jamaican territorial waters at 08:35 UTC on January 29 and left at 10:48 UTC on the 30th, an interval insufficient to carry out a loading operation, even before the U.S. decree formally took effect at midnight.
For thousands of households, obtaining a 10-kilogram cylinder has become an obstacle course
The tanker then headed to Cienfuegos and entered the port with the same draft with which it had departed. It carried no LPG. The voyage, followed with anticipation for days by specialists and citizens alike, ended up being yet another demonstration that Cuba’s energy system operates day to day, without a safety net.
The Cienfuegos terminal concentrates key infrastructure for LPG storage and redistribution for the western part of the country. From there, provinces that have gone months without regular service are supplied. The lack of gas not only deprives families of an essential household fuel, but also forces them to improvise with firewood, charcoal, or intermittent electricity for cooking, fueling ongoing social and public health deterioration.
In 2025, the authorities themselves acknowledged near-total suspensions of gas sales due to depleted inventories. Each unloading allowed only a few days of sales before the small cylinders, the balitas, disappeared again. For thousands of households, obtaining a 10-kilogram cylinder has become an obstacle course with no guarantee of success.
In January 2026, a gas cylinder was resold for between 10,000 and 30,000 pesos
That is why every movement of the Emilia is tracked down to the minute. The ship has spent long periods anchored or inactive, behavior that some experts attribute less to technical failures than to financial constraints. Cuba purchases LPG through spot operations, without stable contracts, and depends on regional intermediaries willing to assume risks. The shortage of foreign currency, a history of nonpayment, and now the tightening of the sanctions make it increasingly difficult to close deals, even in the short term.
From Cienfuegos, when product is available, LPG is redistributed to provinces that are months behind. Then the lines reappear, appointment slots are exhausted within hours, and the informal market drives prices up. In January 2026, a gas cylinder was resold for between 10,000 and 30,000 pesos, several times a state worker’s monthly salary. The official price exists only for those who manage to reach the service window.
The Emilia episode also fits into a broader context of energy contraction. As early as 2025, fuel imports to Cuba fell significantly, affecting both electricity generation and household consumption. With less fuel for distributed generation plants, blackouts intensify and gas becomes a critical substitute. Shortages of one increase demand for the other, closing a vicious circle.
Translated by Regina Anavy
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