January 24, 2026
The Cuban Petroleum Union (Cupet) is developing new exploration projects aimed at ensuring the sustainability and growth of national crude oil and associated gas production, with the goal of advancing toward energy sovereignty for the country, according to Cuban television’s Noticiero Estelar news program.
These efforts, planned for this year, are supported by geological and seismic studies in the northern strip of the western region, where the main known deposits are concentrated.
Specialists pointed out that, despite the U.S. economic, commercial, and financial blockade, which limits access to logistical and technological supplies, the priority is to increase production with the internal means available.
According to experts, increasing the drilling rate from the current two or three wells per year to six or eight would significantly increase daily production and bring direct benefits to the national economy.
The Cuban oil industry has an inventory of wells that in many cases have been in operation for more than 10 or 20 years, leading to a natural decline in production.
For this reason, the strategy focuses on areas of lower risk and greater knowledge of the subsoil, specifically between Havana and Varadero, highlighting the Varadero Oeste and Fraile fields.
Domestic crude oil and gas are essential inputs for the country’s thermoelectric plants. Although domestic production does not cover total demand, it accounts for more than 50% of the fuel used to generate electricity.
Having this resource available is vital for energy stability, as its use is considerably more economical than purchasing fuels on the international market.
Immediate planning prioritizes the concentration of resources in Varadero Oeste and Fraile-Santa Cruz, where technological advances have been made, such as horizontal drilling from land under the seabed, a technique valued by international experts as a technological feat.
The industry’s main objective for 2026 is to ensure the stability of supplies and advance the goals that contribute to national energy sovereignty.
Source: Cuba en Resumen