Residents of the Reparto Sueño neighborhood in Santiago de Cuba took to banging pots and pans on Wednesday, voicing their frustration over prolonged power outages that have left the area without electricity for most of the day. This demonstration was reported on Facebook by independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada.
The protest extended beyond Reparto Sueño. Commenters on the post confirmed that the sounds of pots clanging were also heard in the streets of Santa Bárbara, where one individual described the scenario as a “TOTAL BLACKOUT ALL DAY.”
In another comment, it was noted that similar protests echoed in Buena Vista, Havana, where residents joined in the clamor.
The online reaction reflected the community's exasperation. "We can't take it anymore," wrote one resident. "This is too much, enough already," voiced another. "What we're going through is not easy," summarized a third participant.
This outburst of discontent happened just a day after the Santiago Electric Company reorganized the blackouts into nine blocks, a plan that leaves each area with only one or two hours of electricity daily, effectively cutting power for up to 22 consecutive hours.
The situation worsened in Santiago after the Antonio Guiteras Thermal Power Plant went offline on June 15 due to a boiler leak. This event increased the expected impact during the nighttime peak to 2,085 MW, with availability down to just 1,215 MW against a national demand of 3,100 MW.
Wednesday's protest is not an isolated incident in Santiago. Reparto Sueño had previously seen similar protests in March 2026, when the neighborhood endured nine straight days without electricity and no official response. Since then, a wave of protests has persisted: new clamorings of pots occurred on March 23, tire burnings and chants of “Down with the dictatorship!” and “Homeland and Life!” erupted in the Micro 3 and El Salao neighborhoods on May 30 and 31, respectively. Additionally, on June 5, residents of Micro 2 protested after more than ten days without power due to an unrepaired transformer, and on June 12, residents of the José Martí Urban Center demanded electricity, food, and freedom.
Similar protests were reported Wednesday in Santa Clara and new demonstrations surfaced in Havana, indicating a widespread day of discontent across several provinces.
The national landscape reflects a crisis of historic proportions. The Cuban Observatory of Conflicts recorded 1,311 protests throughout Cuba in May 2026, a figure nearing the historic record of 1,333 set in December 2025, with 46 of these protests occurring in person on the streets.
A director from Santiago's Electric Company admitted on May 31 that in many cases, the company cannot guarantee even two hours of electricity a day, an admission that underscores the magnitude of the energy collapse pushing Cubans to the streets with their pots and pans.
Understanding the Power Outage Crisis in Cuba
What prompted the recent protests in Santiago de Cuba?
The protests were triggered by prolonged power outages, with neighborhoods experiencing electricity for only one or two hours daily, prompting residents to express their frustration by banging pots and pans.
How severe is the power outage situation in Cuba?
The power outage situation is dire, with significant shortages and outages lasting up to 22 hours a day due to insufficient electricity generation capacity compared to the national demand.