Residents in Old Havana took to the streets this Saturday, chanting "Freedom!" after enduring more than 40 continuous hours without electricity. This protest marks yet another outcry against the severe energy crisis that has gripped Cuba, exacerbated by the failures of its socialist government.
Journalist Mario J. Pentón shared a video on his Facebook account capturing the demonstration amidst complete darkness. "Look, Mario, this is Old Havana, look, it's all dark. Look around, 360 degrees, all of Old Havana," a voice in the footage emphasizes. A contributor to the video urged for global awareness: "We need the world to see what this tyranny does to us. The misery it imposes on the Cuban people."
Energy Crisis Reaches New Lows
The protest erupted during the most critical period for Cuba's electrical grid. The General Director of Electricity at the Ministry of Energy and Mines, engineer Lázaro Guerra Hernández, reported that the nation faced a mere 1,015 MW availability against a projected demand of 3,150 MW on Saturday, creating a shortfall of 2,165 MW for the evening peak.
Contributing to the bleak scenario, the Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric Plant, Cuba's largest power generator, experienced its 16th failure of the year and remained offline for the Saturday night peak. "There are no new generating units being added today," Guerra Hernández confirmed. The plant's reactivation is contingent on successful hydraulic tests expected on Sunday.
Protests and Government Response
Aggravating the situation, 106 distributed generation plants have halted due to a diesel shortage, accounting for 890 MW lost, alongside other strategic facilities inactive from fuel scarcity, totaling an additional 1,203 MW unavailable.
On June 25, Cuba reported a historic absolute deficit of 2,208 MW, surpassing the previous record set on May 14. By Saturday morning, outages had already reached around 1,800 MW.
Protests against the power cuts have become routine in 2026. The Cuban Conflict Observatory recorded 1,311 demonstrations in May alone, marking a 29.5% increase from May 2025 and the highest monthly count ever.
Since May 13, nightly banging of pots and pans echoes across various parts of the capital. Residents of Old Havana had previously protested on May 25 with the same rallying cry of "Freedom!" after being without power for 23 hours.
The regime has systematically responded to these protests with police deployments, arrests, and internet blackouts.
Sabotage and Economic Challenges
Adding to the energy crisis, the theft of dielectric oil from transformers, described as sabotage by the General Director of the Electric Union, Rubén Campos Olmos, remains a significant issue: "When this liquid is stolen, the transformer often gets damaged, but it immediately goes out of service because it requires it."
Experts estimate that restoring Cuba's electrical system would necessitate between 8 to 10 billion dollars and three to five years of work. This daunting task highlights the stark reality for a nation where communities in Matanzas recently suffered up to 85 consecutive hours without power just two days ago.
Understanding Cuba's Energy Crisis
What sparked the recent protests in Old Havana?
The protests were ignited by over 40 hours of continuous power outages, with residents demanding freedom and expressing frustration over the energy crisis.
How severe is the current energy crisis in Cuba?
Cuba is experiencing a severe energy crisis with a significant shortfall in electricity supply, compounded by frequent power plant failures and fuel shortages.
What has been the government's response to the protests?
The Cuban government has responded to protests with police presence, arrests, and internet shutdowns to quell dissent.
What are the long-term solutions proposed for Cuba's energy issues?
Experts suggest that addressing Cuba's energy problems would require substantial financial investment and several years of dedicated work to rebuild the electrical infrastructure.