Authorities in Matanzas Crack Down on Vehicle Fuel to Curb Stolen Dielectric Oil

The government in Matanzas has launched a roadside inspection system designed to analyze vehicle fuel for possible contamination with stolen dielectric oil. This initiative comes in response to a surge in thefts causing significant harm to the electrical grid.

According to state-run TV Yumurí, this measure has been implemented in a province that reportedly accounts for 60% of the dielectric oil thefts occurring across Cuba.

Officials have cautioned that individuals caught using or selling stolen dielectric oil face severe consequences, including vehicle confiscation and imprisonment.

Recent reports from TV Yumurí indicate that courts have issued sabotage sentences against those involved in incidents damaging the electrical infrastructure.

Impact of Dielectric Oil Theft in Matanzas

Matanzas has suffered over 90 damaged transformers, leading to financial losses exceeding half a million dollars solely for product replacement, as per the reports.

Inspection sites are staffed with personnel from the Fuel Marketing Company Laboratories, who are responsible for collecting and examining diesel samples to detect any stolen dielectric oil presence.

Beyond Roadside Checks: A Broader Strategy

This initiative goes beyond mere roadside checks, aiming to curb the theft wave and serve as a deterrent. Individuals using the stolen product now face potential fuel testing, which could uncover mixtures involving transformer oil.

The approach targets not only the individuals extracting the oil from electrical infrastructure but also the subsequent chain of receptivity, distribution, and use sustaining the illegal market.

Plans to extend this strategy to other regions with high theft rates are underway, as part of a comprehensive program to protect Cuba's electrical infrastructure.

Essential Role of Dielectric Oil

Dielectric oil is crucial for transformer insulation and cooling. Its extraction can lead to equipment failures, further extending power outages in areas already experiencing extensive blackouts.

TV Yumurí noted that Cuba manufactures this oil at the Sergio Soto Refinery for transformers up to 33 kilovolts, while higher voltage equipment relies on imports.

International prices for this oil range from three to four dollars per liter, with freight and tariffs potentially increasing the final cost by up to 25%.

Consequences of Ongoing Theft

This measure is introduced as thefts have left communities powerless, disrupting agricultural production, water supply, and other essential services, worsening Cuba's already fragile energy situation.

The severity of the issue in the province was acknowledged months ago. In May, authorities reported a rise in dielectric oil thefts in Matanzas, with about 40 individuals facing charges in Calimete, Martí, Los Arabos, Perico, and Jovellanos, linked to over 10 criminal networks and approximately 33 ongoing investigations.

One significant incident occurred in April in Jagüey Grande, where a man was arrested following a dielectric oil theft at a 33 kV substation, cutting power to 4,429 homes and affecting a hospital, a clinic, and the local hygiene center.

The thefts persisted into August. On the 19th, two individuals were detained in Los Arabos with a tank of dielectric oil, along with a hose, gloves, and a rope. They allegedly drained the product from a transformer in the Guachinango area.

Investigations have increasingly revealed the use of stolen oil as fuel. On Thursday, several people were detained in Santiago de Cuba for allegedly receiving stolen dielectric oil in a case involving drivers and private vehicle owners.

Tests conducted on the fuel of certain passenger transport vehicles reportedly detected mixtures of diesel with dielectric oil, diesel with fuel oil, and even fuel oil used as the sole fuel source.