Island-wide power outage leaves much of Cuba without electricity amid deepening crisis Cuban authorities announced a widespread power outage on Monday, affecting millions of residents across the island as the nation grapples with a worsening energy and economic crisis. The Ministry of Energy and Mines confirmed the blackout resulted from a "complete disconnection" of the national electrical grid, with officials launching an investigation to determine the exact cause. The incident marks another significant setback for Cuba’s aging power infrastructure, which has been increasingly strained by fuel shortages and deteriorating facilities. President Miguel Díaz-Canel highlighted the severity of the situation, noting the country has gone over three months without receiving oil shipments. This has forced the government to rely on limited supplies of solar energy, natural gas, and thermoelectric plants to meet demand. The energy crisis has disrupted critical services, with officials reporting that thousands of medical procedures have been delayed due to insufficient electricity and fuel supplies in hospitals. The halt in oil imports from Venezuela, following the U.S. military attack on the South American nation in early January and the arrest of its leader, Nicolás Maduro, has exacerbated the problem. Despite producing about 40% of the petroleum it consumes, Cuba still depends heavily on imports to power its electricity system. Even with domestic production and alternative energy sources, officials say supply shortages persist as the nation’s electrical infrastructure continues to degrade. Recent years have seen repeated power outages across the country, attributed to fuel shortages, equipment failures, and the aging of power plants.#united_states #nicolas_maduro #cuba #miguel_dazcanel #ministry_of_energy_and_mines
Cuba reports island-wide blackout as country struggles with energy crisis Officials in Cuba reported a widespread power outage across the nation on Monday, affecting its 11 million residents as the country grapples with deepening energy and economic challenges. The government attributed the crisis to a U.S. energy embargo, which it claims has worsened by President Donald Trump’s threats of tariffs on nations supplying oil to the United States. The Ministry of Energy and Mines confirmed a "complete disconnection" of the country’s electrical grid, stating it was investigating the cause. President Miguel Díaz-Canel revealed that Cuba had not received oil shipments in over three months, forcing the government to rely on solar power, natural gas, and thermoelectric plants. He also disclosed that delays in medical services have led to postponed surgeries for tens of thousands of patients. A major blackout occurred earlier in the week, disrupting power in the western regions and leaving millions without electricity. The crisis has been compounded by the suspension of critical oil imports from Venezuela, which were halted after the U.S. attacked the South American nation in early January and arrested its then-president, Nicolás Maduro. Despite producing 40% of its petroleum and generating its own power, Cuba’s electric grid has continued to deteriorate, failing to meet growing demand. Díaz-Canel announced ongoing discussions with the U.S. government as the situation worsens, highlighting the nation’s urgent need for energy solutions. The blackout underscores the severe strain on Cuba’s infrastructure and its reliance on external energy sources amid prolonged economic hardship.#venezuela #donald_trump #cuba #miguel_dazcanel #nicols_maduro
