Related videos:
The theft of 1,000 meters of electrical wiring left 18 homes without power in the rural community of Las Biajacas, in Holguín.
6 days without electricity in Las Biajacas following the theft of wires from the area’s drying racks. 18 homes affected. Families that have had to reinvent themselves,” reported on Facebook by Realidades from Holguín.
The official profile celebrated that the residents of that community "received back the cables that had been taken" from the police.
The theft was due to "unscrupulous citizens" who further strained "the lives of families amid a crisis of resources and shortages," the profile admitted.
This type of theft has become common in Cuba, a country increasingly affected by a systemic crisis where many choose to take whatever is at hand to survive.
In March, it came to light that two men were arrested in Cárdenas after stealing more than 1,100 meters of electrical cable from a state-owned company and attempting to extract the copper by burning it in the yard of a nearby house.
The incident took place at the "José Valdez Reyes" Railway Industrial Company, where the alleged perpetrators, identified as José Antonio Zamora Gonzáles and Emilio Vinageras Sardina, stole a total of 1,158 meters of cable.
Recently, the official press in Havana admitted that cable thefts in public facilities have caused interruptions in telephone service, affecting hundreds of people. By the end of 2024, 39 vandalistic incidents were reported in the Cuban capital.
The thefts affected around 300 residential services and state entities and about 600 people.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cable Theft and the Energy Crisis in Cuba
What happened in the community of Las Biajacas regarding the electricity supply?
The theft of 1,000 meters of electrical cable left 18 homes in the rural community of Las Biajacas, in Holguín, without power for nearly a week. This incident is part of a series of cable thefts that have affected various communities in Cuba, exacerbating the country's energy crisis.
Why has cable theft increased in Cuba?
The increase in cable thefts in Cuba is due to the economic crisis and the high demand for copper in the black market. Many people resort to these crimes to survive in a context of shortages and lack of basic resources. This type of theft has caused interruptions in telecommunications and electricity services in several regions of the country.
What impact do these thefts have on the energy crisis in Cuba?
Cable and dielectric oil thefts exacerbate the energy crisis in Cuba by causing blackouts and significant damage to the electrical infrastructure. These crimes increase the duration of interruptions to essential services, impacting entire communities and further complicating the already precarious energy situation in the country.
What measures are the Cuban authorities taking to combat these thefts?
Cuban authorities have promised to implement strict criminal policies against those responsible for theft of electrical infrastructure. However, these measures have not succeeded in halting the rise of these crimes, partly due to a lack of resources and inefficiency in the protection of the country’s critical infrastructure.
How does the theft of infrastructure affect telecommunications in Cuba?
The theft of cables and acts of vandalism have disrupted telecommunications services in Cuba, leaving hundreds of people without access to telephone and internet services. ETECSA, the state telecommunications monopoly, has reported multiple incidents of this nature that worsen the already deteriorating quality of service in the country.
Filed under: