Vicente de la O Levy
Cuba's Minister of Energy and Mines, overseeing the grid crisis and refinery operations
Last refreshed: 27 April 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Who is responsible for keeping Cuba's lights on, and what did he announce in April 2026?
Timeline for Vicente de la O Levy
Stated publicly that fuel from the Kolodkin delivery lasts only until end of April
Cuba Dispatch: Refinery restart cuts grid deficit to 1,395 MW- Who is Cuba's Energy Minister in 2026?
- Vicente de la O Levy is Cuba's Minister of Energy and Mines. He oversees UNE and CUPET and is the government's main spokesperson on the island's electricity crisis.Source: event
- What did Cuba's energy minister say about the power grid in April 2026?
- Vicente de la O Levy announced that the restart of the Cienfuegos refinery on Russian crude had cut Cuba's grid deficit from 1,732 MW to 1,395 MW, providing partial relief to the ongoing blackout crisis.Source: event
Background
Vicente de la O Levy is Cuba's Minister of Energy and Mines, the cabinet position responsible for the island's electricity generation, petroleum sector, and renewable energy development. He has been a prominent public spokesperson for the government's management of Cuba's protracted energy crisis, regularly announcing deficit figures and planned interventions to the state media. The ministry he leads oversees UNE (Unión Eléctrica Nacional), the state grid operator, and CUPET, the state petroleum company. His public role has increased as the energy crisis has deepened: in a system that limits ministerial visibility, De la O Levy has become one of the most recognisable faces of Cuba's economic emergency.
In April 2026, De la O Levy announced that the restart of the Camilo Cienfuegos refinery — following the delivery of Russian crude by the Sovcomflot tanker Universal — had reduced Cuba's National Grid deficit from 1,732 MW to 1,395 MW. He framed the development as a significant improvement while acknowledging that the grid remained in deficit. His announcement was the primary public confirmation of the impact of OFAC General Licence 134B's renewal on Cuba's energy situation.
