Cuba was hit by a nationwide blackout on Monday after its national power grid collapsed, leaving millions without electricity, as US continued its blockade of fuel.
The state-owned grid operator stated that no faults were detected in the units operating at the time of the collapse and that efforts were underway to restore power across the country.
The outage comes amid an ongoing energy crisis linked to fuel shortages. Cuban authorities have said the country has not received oil shipments for three months, affecting electricity generation and leading to repeated power cuts.
Officials have attributed the shortages to US restrictions on fuel supplies.
Fuel prices have also risen on the unofficial market, with reports indicating petrol costs reaching up to $9 per litre meaning it costs more than $300 to fill up a car’s gas tank which is more than most Cubans earn in a year.
The blackout coincided with remarks by US President Donald Trump, who said he could “take” Cuba as Washington DC and Havana hold talks on their bilateral relationship.
“I do believe I’ll be … having the honor of taking Cuba. That’s a big honor. Taking Cuba in some form,” Trump told reporters.
“I mean, whether I free it, take it. Think I can do anything I want with it. You want to know the truth,” he added at the Oval Office.
According to a report by The New York Times, US officials have indicated that removing Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel from office is a key objective in the talks, citing people familiar with the matter. The report said US negotiators have conveyed this position to Cuban counterparts.
Cuba has maintained that it will not accept external interference in its internal affairs and has treated such proposals as a condition that could halt any agreement.
Diaz-Canel said last week that any talks with the United States (US) should be based on “the principles of equality and respect for the political systems of both countries, sovereignty and self-determination.”
Trump has also increased pressure on Cuba by halting Venezuelan oil shipments and warning of tariffs on countries supplying oil to the island.