U.S. Energy Firm Vanguard to Ship Largest Fuel Load to Cuba in 66 Years

Vanguard Energy, a U.S. energy‑trading company based in Florida, is preparing to export a total of 250,000 barrels of fuel to Cuba – 100,000 barrels of gasoline and 150,000 barrels of diesel. If completed, it will be the biggest U.S. fuel shipment to the island since the 1960 trade freeze imposed during President Dwight Eisenhower’s administration.

The fuel is slated for Cuba’s private‑sector economy and will be stored in privately leased tanks on the island, bypassing state‑owned enterprises. The deal follows recent U.S. Commerce Department relaxations that allow American firms to sell petroleum products to Cuban private firms, a move intended to alleviate the island’s long‑running energy crisis worsened by reduced Venezuelan oil flows.

Vanguard has arranged a U.S.-flagged vessel and contracted storage facilities for the cargo. U.S. Treasury and State Departments have not issued official comments, while Cuban diplomatic channels have not responded to media inquiries. The shipment is expected to meet Cuba’s ordinary fuel consumption for roughly 11 days, providing temporary relief to widespread power outages and transport disruptions.