On Tuesday, residents of Vedado in Havana took the bold step of blocking Avenue 26 after enduring over 40 consecutive hours without power, marking a new wave of protests against the ongoing blackouts plaguing the neighborhood throughout 2026.
The protest, which involved closing off the street with demonstrators banging pots in the middle of the road, was captured by activist Salomé García Bacallao in her Facebook posts documenting the event.
Shortly after the demonstration began, García Bacallao warned that "the military operation to suppress the protest on 26th Street has already started."
Photos taken at night accompanying her report showcase vehicles with flashing blue lights—indicative of a police presence—and individuals gathered with candles or small lights, viewed from the upper floors of surrounding residential buildings.
Closing a major thoroughfare like 26th Street represents a significant escalation from traditional pot-banging protests: it involves actively occupying public space and directly obstructing traffic, thus increasing the protest's visibility and, in turn, the regime's repressive response.
This incident is not an isolated event. Vedado has repeatedly been the focal point of public outrage over power outages: a pot-banging protest occurred on Monday after more than 24 hours without electricity, and in July, residents took to the streets after enduring over 30 hours without power.
In June, protests spread to Centro Habana, Playa, Regla, and other municipalities, with the regime typically responding with police and special forces.
The day before, a police operation encircled residents of Fanguito amid another protest over blackouts, underscoring the authorities' consistent strategy of containment in response to any expressions of public discontent.
The energy crisis is the backdrop to this growing frustration. The Unión Eléctrica (UNE) reported a mere 960 MW of available power against a demand of 2,910 MW on Tuesday, with a projected shortfall of 2,280 MW. August ended with a peak-hour power shortage of 2,410 MW, nearing the monthly record of 2,411 MW set on August 11.
During the last week of August, between 65% and 72% of the country was simultaneously without power during peak hours, according to UNE data reported by Infobae. The National Electroenergetic System has experienced at least seven total collapses this year, two occurring within 48 hours in early August.
The crisis, the most severe in decades, is driven by aging thermoelectric infrastructure, fuel shortages, and inadequate maintenance. For most Cubans, spending up to 20 hours a day without electricity has become the norm rather than the exception.
The regime's response pattern—surrounding protest areas with patrols and special forces, and sometimes making arrests or cutting internet access—occurs consistently whenever residents decide to take to the streets, without offering any real solutions to the crisis that compels them to protest.
Understanding the Energy Crisis in Cuba
What triggered the recent protests in Vedado?
Residents of Vedado protested after experiencing over 40 hours without electricity, as part of a broader issue of frequent power outages affecting the area.
How has the Cuban government responded to these protests?
The government has consistently deployed police and special forces to suppress protests, often encircling protest areas and making arrests or restricting internet access.
What are the underlying causes of Cuba's energy crisis?
The crisis is driven by outdated thermoelectric infrastructure, fuel shortages, and insufficient maintenance, resulting in frequent power outages and significant energy deficits.
How extensive are the power outages in Cuba?
During peak hours, between 65% and 72% of Cuba has experienced simultaneous power outages, with the National Electroenergetic System suffering multiple total collapses this year.