Japan has committed to providing grant assistance valued at 1 billion yen (approximately $6.4 million) to support the installation of renewable energy equipment at 10 hospitals across Cuba. The initiative aims to address the ongoing power shortages exacerbated by escalating fuel scarcity in the country.

The agreement was formalized on Monday in Havana through a note exchange between Japan’s ambassador to Cuba, Kazuhito Nakamura, and Fernando Hiraldo del Castillo, the resident representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Cuba, according to a statement from Japan’s Foreign Ministry. The funding will primarily support the deployment of solar panels and other renewable energy technologies to ensure more reliable electricity supply at healthcare facilities.

Cuba has experienced worsening fuel shortages and frequent power outages, a situation largely attributed to a U.S. oil embargo that has severely restricted the island’s access to energy resources. These outages have increasingly strained critical infrastructure, including hospitals, heightening the urgency for sustainable energy solutions.

Japan’s grant aims to alleviate some of these challenges by enhancing the resilience of hospital power systems, thereby improving healthcare service delivery amid Cuba’s broader energy crisis. The collaboration also reflects ongoing international efforts to support Cuba’s development goals despite geopolitical constraints impacting the country’s economy and access to resources.