Marketplace Morning Report Russian oil is giving a lifeline to Cuba
Mar 31, 2026
Will Grant, BBC correspondent covering Mexico, Central America and Cuba, reports on crippling blackouts and how a Russian oil delivery offers a short-term lifeline. Marissa Mazria-Katz, journalist who covered Boston's trade school, profiles students learning piano-tuning, locksmithing and violin-making. The conversation shifts between Cuba's energy strain and hands-on trades building durable careers.
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U.S. Fuel Restrictions Caused Deep Energy Crisis In Cuba
- U.S. restrictions created an effective energy blockade that pushed Cuba into severe blackouts and fuel shortages.
- Will Grant reports neighborhoods facing regular 15–20 hour outages and a recent island-wide blackout, crippling schools and businesses.
Reporter Witnessed Island Wide Blackout And Dark Clinics
- Will Grant witnessed an island-wide blackout and visited hospitals to assess impacts firsthand.
- He saw a maternity hospital kept on for show while other clinics were 90% dark and only taking emergencies.
Russian Oil Shipment Is Only A Stopgap
- Russia's shipment of roughly 730,000 barrels is a short-term lifeline but not a long-term solution.
- Will Grant estimates it may cover about a week's supply, stretchable under rationing but insufficient for systemic recovery.