The fragile Cuban power infrastructure has suffered another blow as thieves targeted the "La Vallita" substation in Camagüey, draining dielectric oil and disrupting transformer operations. This theft forced technical teams to scramble to restore network stability.
Pedro Cruz Moiset reported on Friday that the Electric Company of Camagüey confirmed the theft occurred early on Thursday morning.
"A serious criminal act of dielectric oil theft was committed at the 'La Vallita' Substation during the early hours of yesterday," the company stated.
The company explained that this oil is crucial for transformers, enabling them to cool and insulate their internal components. Its removal can lead to overheating, severe damage, fires, and even total equipment destruction.
"When this fluid is extracted, the equipment experiences extreme overheating, leading to severe malfunctions, fires, and the complete destruction of the transformer. This results in entire circuits being put out of service, causing prolonged blackouts for thousands of families," the entity warned.
The source did not specify how many households lost power due to the theft at La Vallita, how much oil was stolen, or the extent of the damage to the equipment. There was also no information on whether any suspects have been identified or arrests made.
The Electric Company assured that its technical teams are working "intensively" to reestablish network stability as quickly as possible.
Additionally, they urged the public to report unauthorized individuals, suspicious containers, or unusual movements near substations and other electrical facilities.
The incident in Camagüey adds to a series of dielectric oil thefts in recent days across different provinces, despite harsher penalties for those who damage the electrical infrastructure.
Just one day earlier, a transformer oil theft left a molecular medicine center in Santiago de Cuba without service, forcing the transfer of a critically ill patient's samples to Granma for processing.
This week, two individuals were arrested in Los Arabos, Matanzas, after being caught with a tank full of dielectric oil, a hose, gloves, and a rope still dripping with the liquid, according to released information.
The legal response has also toughened. Recently, a Contramaestre court sentenced a man to 12 years in prison for stealing 120 liters of dielectric oil from the Bungo La Venta substation in Santiago de Cuba.
That theft left over 2,000 people without electricity for 48 hours. The act was prosecuted as sabotage to the National Electroenergetic System, a charge that allows for significantly harsher penalties compared to a common theft.
Understanding Dielectric Oil Thefts in Cuba
What is dielectric oil and why is it important?
Dielectric oil is a fluid used in transformers to cool and insulate their internal components. Its role is crucial to prevent overheating and ensure proper functioning of the equipment.
What are the consequences of dielectric oil theft?
Theft of dielectric oil can lead to overheating, severe equipment damage, fires, and complete destruction of transformers, causing wide-scale power outages.
How is Cuba responding to these thefts?
Cuba has intensified penalties for those damaging the electrical infrastructure and has mobilized technical teams to restore service quickly. The legal framework now treats these acts as sabotage, allowing for harsher sentences.