Cuba reports nationwide blackout as fuel, economic crisis deepens – National

Cuban officials on Monday reported deepening energy and economic crises across the island nation of about 11 million people.

Cuba has blamed its woes on the US energy embargo after President Donald Trump warned in January of tariffs on any country that sells or supplies oil.

The Ministry of Energy and Mines in X noted a “total disconnection” of the country’s power system and said it was investigating.

President Miguel Díaz-Canel said Friday that the island had not received oil shipments for more than three months and was operating on solar, natural gas and thermoelectric plants, and the government had to postpone surgeries for dozens of people.

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A week ago a massive outage affected the west of the island, leaving millions without power.

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Cuba was plunged into darkness as fuel shortages were exacerbated by the US embargo

Crucial oil shipments from Venezuela were halted after the US attacked the South American country in early January and arrested its then-president Nicolas Maduro.

Although Cuba produces 40% of its petroleum and produces its own energy, it is not enough to meet demand as its electricity grid is crumbling.

On Friday, Díaz-Canel confirmed that Cuba is in talks with the US government as the problems continue to intensify.