The Provincial Prosecutor's Office in Artemisa is investigating a potential act of sabotage at the Máximo Gómez Thermoelectric Power Plant in Mariel. The severance of electrical cables reportedly left Unit 8 out of commission, according to authorities.
The official newspaper Trabajadores reported on Wednesday, citing the provincial prosecutor, that this incident took place around 1:00 a.m. on September 2.
According to the prosecutor's account, two individuals unaffiliated with the power plant entered through the facility's water supply channel and cut live cables that connected Unit 8 to the fuel supply house.
Authorities claim that 135 meters of 19-way cable were cut and stolen, leading to the sudden and unplanned shutdown of the unit.
The prosecutor's office stated that the quick response from the plant's workers and management prevented more severe repercussions for the National Electric System (SEN).
The investigation is being conducted by the Unit for Crimes Against State Security and is documented as Preliminary Phase File 36 of 2026.
The investigation involves alleged offenses of sabotage and failure to protect assets in economic entities. So far, four individuals are linked to the probe, with the two alleged direct perpetrators currently held in provisional custody.
Additionally, two workers responsible for security are being investigated for their failure to detect the incident and are currently out on bail, according to the information released.
Authorities also reported recovering 67 meters of electrical cable, which experts identified as belonging to the affected section at the power plant.
This classification as potential sabotage aligns with the judicial policy the Cuban regime has implemented for incidents impacting the electrical infrastructure.
The designation is based on Opinion 475 from the Governing Council of the Supreme People's Court, approved in May 2025, which allows the prosecution of acts like theft, alteration, or damage to components of the National Electric System and other critical infrastructures as sabotage.
Earlier in September, following an attempt to steal dielectric oil at a substation in Santiago de Cuba, the Electric Company explicitly stated that the case would be treated as sabotage due to its impact on the system.
One of the most recent cases concluded in Holguín, where a 19-year-old received an eight-year prison sentence for ongoing sabotage, while another accused was sentenced to 10 years. The prosecutor held them accountable for the theft of dielectric oil, which left over 4,000 customers without power for more than 24 hours.
The scale of this phenomenon became evident this month when authorities acknowledged more than 460 criminal investigations related to the electric system from 2025 through the first half of 2026, including sabotage, damage, robbery with force, theft, and receiving stolen goods.
Over 300 complaints specifically involved the theft of dielectric oil.
Key Questions on Alleged Sabotage at Mariel Power Plant
What triggered the investigation into the Mariel Power Plant?
The investigation was prompted by the cutting and theft of electrical cables, which caused Unit 8 to cease operations at the Máximo Gómez Thermoelectric Power Plant.
How many people are involved in the current investigation?
The investigation currently links four individuals, including two presumed direct perpetrators and two workers under scrutiny for security lapses.
What does the Cuban judicial policy say about such incidents?
Cuban judicial policy, under Opinion 475 of the Supreme People's Court, allows the prosecution of acts like theft or damage to the National Electric System's infrastructure as sabotage.