Related videos:
The National Sanctuary of Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre, the holiest place in Cuban Catholicism, woke up on Wednesday without electricity after the theft of the dielectric oil from the transformer that supplies power to both the temple and its guesthouse.
The incident was publicly reported through an official statement from the Archdiocese of Santiago de Cuba, signed by Father Rogelio Deán, who described what happened on the night from Tuesday to Wednesday: “unscrupulous individuals stole the oil from the transformer that supplies electricity to the Sanctuary of El Cobre and its guesthouse, leaving this vital service unavailable to the sacred home of the Mother of all Cubans.”
The robbery took place in the parking lot of the Sanctuary's lodging, where the police immediately began their investigations. Provincial government authorities were also notified of the incident.
Despite the blackout, the Sanctuary remains open to pilgrims and visitors.
"The security team at the Sanctuary has also implemented new internal protection measures," clarified Father Deán, who added that the electric company is working to restore service.
The priest's statement was emphatic in its rejection: "We deeply condemn these criminal acts, and we await the identification of those responsible. Events like these must not be tolerated."
This new blow to the Sanctuary comes as the temple is still recovering from the damage caused by Hurricane Melissa, which struck eastern Cuba on October 29, 2025, and destroyed more than 80% of its stained glass windows.
The restoration of the staircase lighting was completed in March 2026, and during Easter, the upper stained glass windows were repositioned.
The theft of dielectric oil has become an epidemic that exacerbates the already critical electrical situation in Cuba.
Oil is essential for the operation of transformers; when it is extracted, the equipment becomes permanently unusable.
The municipality of El Cobre had already experienced a tragedy related to this crime: a man was electrocuted while attempting to steal oil from a transformer bank in that same town, on the night of May 8 to 9, 2026, and another individual involved was arrested and charged with sabotage.
The phenomenon has affected virtually all provinces of the country.
In April 2026, the theft of 600 liters of dielectric oil left 40% of the municipality of Amancio in Las Tunas without electricity. In Matanzas, around 40 individuals were prosecuted for this crime just in the first quarter of 2026.
In response to the escalation, the Supreme People's Court issued Opinion 475 in May 2025, categorizing the theft of dielectric oil as sabotage, with penalties ranging from 7 to 30 years of imprisonment, life imprisonment, or even the death penalty in severe cases.
Despite the exemplary sentences —such as the 8 years imposed in Isla de la Juventud for the theft of 60 liters— the thefts continue, and now they have reached the spiritual heart of Cuba.
Filed under: