Residents of Luyanó, a neighborhood in Havana, reported a pot-banging protest and the blockage of Calzada de Concha, a significant thoroughfare in the Diez de Octubre municipality, on Monday. This spontaneous demonstration was another in a series of protests against the power outages suffocating the Cuban capital.
The report surfaced on Facebook, shared by user Nick Austin Reloaded, who posted two brief nighttime videos showing the blocked street. The videos were accompanied by a succinct message: "Luyanó. Calzada de Concha. Street closed."
Escalating Energy Crisis
The protest comes amid an unprecedented energy crisis. According to the Unión Eléctrica (UNE), available power generation on Monday was a mere 1,430 MW, compared to a demand of 2,750 MW. This resulted in a projected nighttime shortfall of up to 1,985 MW, leaving more than half the country without electricity.
The situation worsened due to the unexpected shutdown of unit 4 at the CTE Cienfuegos on Monday, compounded by a 96-hour maintenance period for unit 1 at the CTE Felton in Holguín, further diminishing the nation's power generation capacity.
Protest Patterns and Government Response
Luyanó and the Diez de Octubre municipality have a recent history of protests over similar issues. On April 2, residents of Tamarindo Street staged a pot-banging protest after enduring several hours without power. Meanwhile, a group of women blocked the Calzada de Diez de Octubre due to three months without water and power, only to be dispersed by police within twenty minutes.
In the neighboring Santos Suárez area, large-scale pot-banging protests, involving bonfires and roadblocks, occurred on March 10, 12, and 20. The protest wave extended to at least 12 Havana neighborhoods between March and April, including Vedado, El Cerro, Lawton, Alamar, La Güinera, and Playa.
The regime has responded with systematic repression. A Cubalex report released yesterday highlights a "social militarization" strategy, with police and military patrols deployed across streets, parks, and residential areas in Havana.
Historical Context of Street Blockades
Street blockades as a form of protest have a precedent in Havana. In October 2022, residents closed the Calzada del Cerro for three consecutive days, and in May 2024, a street in Central Havana was shut down following a transformer explosion. This pattern has repeated with increasing frequency and intensity by 2026.
Over the past 18 months, Cuba has experienced at least seven total power grid failures, including the March 16, 2026, nationwide blackout, the most severe in decades, lasting 29 hours and 29 minutes.
Understanding the Havana Protests and Power Outages
What triggered the recent protests in Luyanó, Havana?
The recent protests in Luyanó were sparked by ongoing power outages, which have been a recurring issue in Havana, leading to spontaneous demonstrations such as pot-banging and street blockades.
How has the Cuban government responded to these protests?
The Cuban government has responded to the protests with increased repression, deploying police and military patrols to manage and disperse demonstrators, as highlighted in a recent Cubalex report on social militarization.
What has caused the severe energy crisis in Cuba?
The energy crisis in Cuba is due to a combination of factors, including power generation deficits, unexpected plant shutdowns, and scheduled maintenance, which have collectively reduced the nation's capacity to meet electricity demand.