Residents of the El Cerro neighborhood in Havana took to the streets on Monday night, making noise with pots and pans to voice their frustration over a power outage that lasted more than seven hours. According to the independent outlet CubaNet, the electrical service was interrupted shortly before 2:00 p.m. and wasn't restored until after 10:00 p.m.
The sound of clanging pots and cries of protest echoed around the Tejas intersection as darkness engulfed the area. Police arrived with two patrol cars about an hour after the demonstration began and stayed until power was back. This is not the first protest by residents of this area. As reminded by CubaNet, a similar protest occurred in November 2024 after residents endured three days without water or electricity.
The current demonstration is set against a backdrop of widespread blackouts affecting 54% of the country during peak hours, according to official figures. The electrical situation in Cuba is worsening by the day. On Tuesday, the Unión Eléctrica (UNE) reported a national deficit of 1,990 MW, with only 1,690 MW available compared to a demand of 3,500 MW. The causes include multiple breakdowns, units under maintenance, and a chronic fuel shortage.
In Havana, the Electric Company reported issues in five blocks, resulting in a loss of 200 MW. However, users reported that block 3 was also without service, suggesting the situation might be even more severe. While the government calls for patience and endurance, Havana's streets are once again filled with the sound of banging pots, a reflection of public frustration with an unrelenting energy crisis.
Cacerolazos, Crisis, and Repression Amid Electrical Collapse
The protest in El Cerro is not an isolated incident. Just three days earlier, in the early hours of September 14, dozens of residents in Gibara, Holguín, took to the streets shouting "We want power!" and "Freedom!" after more than 24 hours without electricity.
The social unrest in this coastal town included marches with flashlights, banging pots, and chants of popular unity amid an energy crisis. This crisis had led to the fifth nationwide blackout in less than a year.
Although local authorities, such as the Communist Party secretary in Gibara, Nayla Marieta Leyva Rodríguez, claimed to have had a "respectful and frank" dialogue with residents, arrests of demonstrators began shortly after, contradicting the official narrative of calm and understanding.
Videos on social media showed National Revolutionary Police (PNR) patrols making selective arrests, which activists have described as a "government crackdown." The events in Gibara and Havana occur within a context of structural collapse of the National Electric System, with demand far exceeding generation capacity and thermoelectric units out of service due to breakdowns or maintenance.
The desperation caused by prolonged outages, coupled with the regime's lack of effective responses, has led to a visible escalation of social unrest in the streets, documented by citizens on social media. Each new blackout, each banging pot, is now an echo of the collective exhaustion of a country at its breaking point.
Understanding Cuba's Energy Crisis
What triggered the protests in El Cerro and Gibara?
The protests in El Cerro and Gibara were triggered by prolonged power outages, with residents expressing their frustration over the lack of electricity and the government's inadequate response to the crisis.
How severe is Cuba's current electrical crisis?
Cuba is facing a severe electrical crisis, with a national power deficit of 1,990 MW and only 1,690 MW available against a demand of 3,500 MW. The situation is exacerbated by frequent breakdowns, maintenance issues, and chronic fuel shortages.
How has the Cuban government responded to the energy crisis?
The Cuban government has called for patience and endurance amidst the energy crisis. However, their response has been criticized as inadequate, leading to social unrest and public protests across the country.