Cuba plunges into darkness as electric grid collapses

Cuba’s electricity grid collapsed late on Sunday, the state-owned grid ​operator said, plunging the island of ‌about 10 million people into darkness as blackouts become more frequent.

The outage follows three nationwide blackouts in ​July and comes as a US-imposed ​oil blockade further strains the island’s aging energy infrastructure.

The Union Electrica de Cuba gave ​no further details of the situation in ​its posts on X and Facebook.

Pressure on the power system has mounted as Cuba struggles to secure ​fuel imports.

It lost a key source of ​fuel after an oil blockade imposed by US President ‌Donald ⁠Trump, following Washington’s January 3 ouster of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

Venezuela had long been Cuba’s primary oil supplier, with imports from ​Mexico also ​halted amid ⁠increased US pressure.

The power crisis coincides with a cautious opening of ​Cuba’s tightly controlled energy sector, driven ​by fuel shortages and severe US sanctions.

Havana recently authorized its first foreign-backed fuel import venture and ⁠allowed ​nearly 200 Cuban businesses to ​participate in wholesale fuel distribution.