Cuba's National Grid Collapses for Third Time in 10 Days, Affecting 10 Million

Havana. Due to the collapse of Cuba's national grid, electricity service has been cut off across the country for the third time in 10 days. As a result, about one crore citizens have been deprived of electricity. According to the state-owned electricity company UNE, the entire electricity network of the country was shut down at 11 am local time on Tuesday. The Ministry of Energy and Mines of Cuba has informed through social media that the entire electricity system has been completely disconnected.

This latest electricity crisis comes at a time when Cuba is facing its most severe economic crisis in decades. Cuba claims that fuel shortage has become severe due to the US oil blockade and the old electricity infrastructure has become even weaker. US President Donald Trump imposed an oil blockade on Cuba in January. Before that, after the US removed Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro from power, the subsidized oil supply from Venezuela to Cuba was stopped. It is said that Mexico has also stopped fuel supply to Cuba under US pressure.