Power Outages Ignite Protests and Pot-Banging Demonstrations in Havana and Matanzas Amid Cuba's Electrical System Collapse

On Friday night, several areas of Cuba, notably Havana and the municipality of Jagüey Grande in Matanzas province, witnessed pot-banging protests due to extended power outages affecting a significant portion of the nation.

Social media videos revealed residents banging pots from their homes or in the streets, accompanied by shouts of protest echoing through the darkness caused by the power cuts. Some recordings captured chants like "freedom" and vocal opposition to the government.

Journalist Mario Pentón reported a protest in Jagüey Grande following days without electricity. He confirmed the authenticity of the event through a video call with locals in the Matanzas municipality.

Protests in the Heart of Havana

Simultaneously, social media users and pages documented pot-banging in various Havana neighborhoods. Mentioned locations include Jesús María in Old Havana, where residents reportedly took to the streets amidst the blackout.

These demonstrations occurred just days after the near-total collapse of the National Electric System (SEN) last Wednesday, leaving much of the country without power and necessitating a complex restoration process.

Chain Reaction in the Electrical Grid

Reports suggest the disconnection of a major generating unit—the Guiteras thermoelectric plant, the largest in the country—triggered a chain reaction destabilizing the national electrical grid, resulting in a large-scale blackout. Although service has been gradually restored, the system still operates with a significant deficit.

Recently, the generation shortfall has hovered around or exceeded 2,000 megawatts, forcing prolonged blackouts across much of the territory.

Enduring Power Cuts and Their Impacts

In many provinces, power cuts can exceed 20 hours daily, sometimes lasting several days in certain areas, affecting not only households but also water supply, transportation, and food preservation, as per official reports and citizens' testimonies.

Energy Crisis and Political Pressure

The electrical crisis stems from a combination of structural factors, including breakdowns in aging thermoelectric plants, lack of maintenance in the generation system, and fuel shortages to operate power plants.

Moreover, over the past year, oil imports to Cuba have significantly decreased, limiting the electrical system's capacity to meet national demand.

This situation is exacerbated by the energy pressure exerted by the United States on countries and companies supplying fuel to the Cuban regime, following Nicolás Maduro's capture on January 3 and the subsequent control over the Venezuelan government's operations.

On January 29, 2026, President Donald Trump signed an executive order declaring the Cuban government an "unusual and extraordinary threat" to U.S. national security, enabling economic sanctions aimed at restricting oil supplies to the island.

Meanwhile, Cuban-American lawmakers and exiled activists have emphasized that increased internal and external pressure could speed up political changes in Cuba.

Legislators like María Elvira Salazar, Mario Díaz-Balart, and Carlos Giménez have repeatedly stated that the regime is experiencing one of its weakest moments and have called for heightened political and economic pressure against the Havana government.

In this context, some activists and exile groups have encouraged Cubans on the island to protest as a means to push for political transition, enforce reforms, or hasten a potential regime collapse.

Protests over power outages, shortages, and worsening living conditions have recurred at various times in recent years, reflecting growing social discontent within the country.

So far, the authorities of Cuba's totalitarian regime have not made public statements regarding the pot-banging incidents reported on Friday night in various parts of the country.