In the province of Las Tunas, there have been 11 incidents of theft involving dielectric oil and parts from electrical transformers this year. This ongoing issue has left thousands of customers dealing with prolonged power outages.
Anisley Santiesteban Velázquez, the technical director of the Las Tunas Electric Company, highlighted the severity of the situation during a visit to the provincial transformer workshop.
"Including the incidents in Yariguá and Lora, within the Jesús Menéndez municipality, we are now facing 11 criminal acts related to the theft of transformer oil and parts," Santiesteban stated in comments published by the official newspaper 26.
The community of Yariguá, situated west of Las Tunas city, has been without electricity for four days following the theft of dielectric oil from a transformer serving the area. This outage has plunged over 4,000 residents into darkness amid the country's already critical energy situation.
Community and Government Countermeasures
In response to the rise in these incidents, the Electric Company has rolled out a series of measures that blend surveillance, repairs, and community involvement to safeguard an increasingly vulnerable infrastructure.
One of the steps includes repairing perimeter fences around 44 priority substations, many of which were in disrepair, making it easier for criminals to gain access.
The installation of solar lamps to ensure nighttime illumination is also underway. "This is to ensure the areas remain lit at night," Santiesteban explained, referring to a strategy aimed at minimizing the darkness that facilitates these thefts.
Innovative Deterrents and Legal Measures
The most notable initiative involves setting up chemical traps in collaboration with the Ministry of the Interior, although specifics about their operation have not been disclosed by authorities.
The plan also includes hiring four security agents for each of the 44 prioritized substations. Santiesteban took the opportunity to publicly invite individuals interested in joining these security efforts.
This situation underscores how the economic crisis and the ongoing deterioration of electrical infrastructure have made transformer and fuel theft a recurring problem, exacerbating blackouts and the hardships faced by entire communities in Cuba.
Dielectric oil theft is not exclusive to Las Tunas. On April 19, the theft of 600 liters of oil in Amancio left 40% of that municipality without power, impacting nearly 4,947 customers, a health clinic, and a water pumping station.
Similar incidents have occurred throughout the island. In Santiago de Cuba, one man died, and another suffered severe burns on April 11 when a transformer exploded during an attempted oil theft.
In Matanzas, a man was arrested in Jagüey Grande after leaving over 4,400 homes, a hospital, and a clinic without power. Meanwhile, in Sancti Spíritus, three men faced charges for electrical sabotage after being caught in the act, and in Granma, a dielectric oil theft plunged a Bayamo community into darkness in April.
The legal framework has tightened. "Recently, the Supreme People's Court issued a ruling declaring that any crime involving electrical infrastructure will be treated as sabotage," Santiesteban Velázquez noted, referencing Ruling 475 from May 2025, which prescribes sentences ranging from seven to 15 years in prison, and up to 30 years or life imprisonment in severe cases.
Despite these measures, the thefts continue. The stolen oil is sold on the black market as lubricant or fuel for tractors at up to 500 Cuban pesos per liter, in a context where the electricity generation shortfall exceeds 2,200 MW, impacting 70% of the population with power cuts.
Understanding the Impact of Transformer Theft in Cuba
What are the consequences of transformer theft in Cuba?
Transformer theft leads to significant power outages, affecting thousands of residents, disrupting essential services, and exacerbating the country's energy crisis.
How is the Cuban government addressing transformer theft?
The government is implementing measures such as repairing fences, installing solar lighting, using chemical traps, and strengthening security at substations to combat the theft.
Why is dielectric oil targeted by thieves?
Dielectric oil is stolen for resale on the black market, where it is used as a lubricant or fuel, fetching high prices due to the ongoing energy shortages in Cuba.