MEXICAN President Claudia Sheinbaum has said that her country aims to restart oil shipments to Cuba soon, which could provide much-needed relief from deepening crises on the socialist island caused by a lack of petroleum.

She said on Monday that her administration would seek to send the oil via commercial and privately owned firms, instead of using state-owned companies as it has in the past.

Mexico became a key fuel supplier to Cuba after the United States attacked Venezuela in early January and halted that country’s critical oil shipments. 

Oil supplies to Cuba were completely suspended after US President Donald Trump threatened to impose tariffs on any country that provides or sells oil to the island.

Since the attack on Venezuela, during which 100 people were killed and President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were kidnapped, only one oil shipment has reached Cuba, sent by Russia.

The lack of fuel has led to severe power cuts, shorter working hours, water shortages, suspended surgeries and spoiled food.

President Sheinbaum said she wanted to take advantage of a package of market reforms that Cuba’s government recently approved by making use of Mexican business owners already on the island.

“The mechanism would be through private companies that have permits to transport fuel to Cuba,” she stated, without providing further details. 

Ms Sheinbaum pledged that Mexico would also continue to send humanitarian aid.