BENGALURU (Aug 2): Cuba's electricity grid collapsed late on Sunday, the state-owned grid operator said, plunging the ‌island of about 10 million people into darkness as blackouts become more frequent.

The outage follows three nationwide blackouts in July and comes as a US-imposed oil blockade further strains the island's ageing energy infrastructure.

The Union Electrica de Cuba gave no further details of the situation in its posts on X and Facebook.

Pressure on the power system has mounted as Cuba struggles to secure fuel imports.

It lost a key source of fuel after an oil blockade imposed by US President Donald Trump, following Washington's Jan 3 ouster of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

Venezuela had long been Cuba's primary oil supplier, with imports from Mexico also halted amid increased US pressure.

The power crisis coincides with a cautious opening of Cuba's tightly controlled energy sector, driven by fuel shortages and severe US sanctions.

Havana recently authorised its first foreign-backed fuel import venture and allowed nearly 200 Cuban businesses to participate in wholesale fuel distribution.

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