Cuba reported another island-wide power outage on Friday, the second in less than a week. The new fault caused the collapse of the national electrical grid.
State-owned power company Union Electrica de Cuba said the outage began in the afternoon, but authorities did not immediately provide an explanation for the cause of the system outage. It was the fourth complete power outage in the country since the beginning of the year.
Power outages in Cuba have become frequent due to the country’s aging electrical infrastructure, much of which dates back to the Cold War. The crisis has been exacerbated by fuel shortages, as the country relies heavily on oil imports, writes aljazeera .
According to reports, the situation has been aggravated by new US measures against Havana. The US administration has increased pressure on the Cuban government, while fuel shortages have affected transportation, public services and the health system.
The energy crisis has had serious consequences for citizens, who face not only a lack of electricity, but also a lack of medicines and basic medical equipment. Human rights experts have warned that the shortages are particularly affecting the most vulnerable segments of society.
The Cuban government partly blames US sanctions for the crisis, while Washington accuses Havana authorities of mismanaging the energy system. Cuba has also begun efforts to gradually switch to solar power and other renewable sources. /Telegraph/