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Officials in Cuba reported an island-wide blackout on Monday as the energy and economic crises deepen in this country of some 11 million people.
Cuba has blamed its woes on a U.S. energy blockade after President Donald Trump warned in January of tariffs on any country that sells or provides oil to it.
The Ministry of Energy and Mines on X noted a “complete disconnection” of the country’s electrical system and said it was investigating.
President Miguel Diaz-Canel on Friday said the island had not received oil shipments in more than three months and was operating on solar power, natural gas and thermoelectric plants, and that the government has had to postpone surgeries for tens of thousands of people.
A massive outage over a week ago affected the island’s west, leaving millions without power.
WATCH | What should Canada do to help Cuba?:
What should Canada do as U.S. oil blockade weakens Cuba? | Hanomansing Tonight
Interim NDP leader Don Davies and Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet have both called on the Liberal government to send immediate aid to Cuba, where people are facing blackouts and shortages of food, fuel and medicine. Ben Rowswell, former Canadian ambassador to Venezuela, says Canada must assist Cuba through this crisis and support its sovereignty as a sign of unity against U.S. agression.
Critical oil shipments from Venezuela were halted after the U.S. attacked the South American country in early January and arrested its then-president, Nicolas Maduro.
While Cuba produces 40 per cent of its petroleum and has been generating its own power, it hasn’t been sufficient to meet demand as its electric grid continues to crumble.
In February, Canada announced $8 million in aid for Cuba to “strengthen local food security and nutrition” amid the energy and humanitarian crisis on the island.
On Friday, Diaz-Canel confirmed that Cuba was holding talks with the U.S. government as the problems deepen.
