Havana, Aug. 3 (SANA) Cuba was plunged into darkness after a nationwide power outage struck late Sunday, with the state electricity utility reporting a failure in the national grid that left the island without electricity, including the capital, Havana.
State-owned utility Unión Eléctrica said in a statement posted on Facebook that the outage was caused by a fault in the national electricity system. It did not immediately provide a timetable for restoring power.
The blackout comes as Cuba continues to struggle with recurring electricity shortages amid an economic crisis and persistent fuel constraints that have placed increasing pressure on the country’s aging power generation system.
According to Cuban authorities, fuel shortages have worsened following U.S. measures affecting oil supplies, reducing fuel available for electricity generation.
Power outages have become increasingly common as much of Cuba’s electricity infrastructure dates back to the Soviet era, while limited fuel supplies have made it difficult to operate power plants and backup generators, which rely largely on imported diesel.
Venezuela has traditionally been Cuba’s principal oil supplier, while oil imports from Mexico have also declined amid increased U.S. pressure, according to the report.
R.D/ABD
