Thieves stole dielectric oil from two transformer banks in the Carolina area, San Luis municipality, Santiago de Cuba, in another blow to an electrical infrastructure already plagued by malfunctions and prolonged blackouts.
The Electric Company of Santiago de Cuba reported on Facebook that the incident was detected on Friday during a supervision alongside the Operational Guard of MININT.
"These actions constitute a crime, impact the population of the neighborhoods and communities that rely on these transformers, and threaten the stability of the electrical system," the entity warned, without providing information about suspects or arrests.
The case occurs just two days after the theft of around 300 liters of oil at the Paquito Rosales Substation, also in San Luis, which left approximately 17,000 people without electricity in several localities.
The practice is being repeated in other areas. This Saturday, another theft of dielectric oil was reported in Cárdenas, Matanzas, the second incident in just eight days in circuit 4427. In that province, more than 90 transformers have been affected by similar events.
The dielectric oil is essential for insulating and cooling transformers. Its removal can lead to serious breakdowns and incapacitate the equipment, further extending power outages.
In the comments on the post, several Cubans pointed out a paradox: the power outages themselves could facilitate thefts by leaving equipment unpowered for long periods.
"I don't think anyone without knowledge would dare to do this, because if the fluid suddenly arrived, they would get stuck," wrote a user.
Another person remarked with irony, "When the transformers have power 24 hours a day, they won't be able to steal the oil, and that would solve two fewer problems."
The practice has already had deadly consequences. In April, an explosion during a robbery attempt in Songo La Maya left one dead and one injured, while in May another person was electrocuted in El Cobre under similar circumstances.
Cuban authorities can classify these acts as sabotage, with severe prison sentences. However, thefts continue to multiply as the country faces a deep energy crisis, creating a vicious cycle: blackouts facilitate the looting of transformers, and damage to this equipment can leave the population without electricity for even longer.
Related videos:
Filed under: