Authorities in Matanzas have implemented a verification system on roads to analyze vehicle fuel and detect possible mixtures with stolen dielectric oil from electric transformers, amid a surge of thefts that have caused significant damage to the network.
The state telecenter TV Yumurí reported that the measure began to be implemented in a province that, according to the data released by that source, currently accounts for 60% of the recorded dielectric oil thefts in Cuba.
The inspection points are staffed by personnel from the Fuel Marketing Company, responsible for collecting and analyzing diesel samples to determine if they contain siphoned dielectric oil.
More than just a simple roadside check, the strategy aims to halt the wave of thefts and also functions as a deterrent measure: those using the stolen product now know that the fuel in their vehicles can be subjected to analysis, revealing possible mixtures with oil from transformers.
The measure is aimed not only at those who extract the lubricant from the electrical infrastructure but also at the subsequent chain of receiving, marketing, and usage that keeps the illegal market active.
Authorities warned that individuals caught using or selling stolen dielectric oil may face vehicle confiscation and imprisonment.
According to TV Yumurí, recently the courts have issued sentences for sabotage against those involved in incidents related to damage to the electrical grid.
Matanzas also reports more than 90 damaged transformers and economic losses exceeding half a million dollars solely for the replacement of the product, according to the report.
The strategy would not be limited to Matanzas. Official information indicates that it is planned to extend it to other areas with high theft rates as part of the program to protect electrical infrastructure.
Dielectric oil is essential for the insulation and cooling of transformers. Its extraction can lead to malfunctions and take equipment out of service, further prolonging power outages in communities that are already experiencing extensive blackouts.
TV Yumurí explained that Cuba produces this oil at the Sergio Soto Refinery for transformers up to 33 kilovolts, while higher voltage equipment requires imported products.
According to the same source, the international price of oil intended for those machines ranges between three and four dollars per liter, while shipping costs and tariffs can increase the final price by up to 25%.
The measure comes at a time when thefts have left communities without electricity and have negatively impacted agricultural production, water supply, and other essential services, further worsening the country's already deteriorating energy situation.
The magnitude of the problem in the province had already been recognized months ago.
In May, authorities admitted to an increase in the theft of dielectric oil in Matanzas, with around 40 individuals undergoing prosecution in Calimete, Martí, Los Arabos, Perico, and Jovellanos, linked to more than 10 criminal networks and approximately 33 ongoing investigations.
One of the most significant cases occurred in April in Jagüey Grande, when a man was arrested after stealing dielectric oil from a 33 kV substation.
The theft left 4,429 homes without electricity and also affected a hospital, a polyclinic, and the local hygiene center.
The sequence of thefts continued throughout August. On the 19th, two individuals were arrested in Los Arabos with a tank filled with dielectric oil, as well as a hose, gloves, and a rope.
According to the official version, they had drained the product from a transformer in the Guachinango area.
The use of stolen oil as fuel has also begun to emerge more clearly in investigations.
This Thursday, it was reported that several individuals were arrested in Santiago de Cuba for the suspected receipt of stolen dielectric oil, in a case that involved drivers and owners of private vehicles.
Tests conducted on the fuel of certain vehicles intended for passenger transport found, according to the official version, mixtures of diesel with dielectric oil, diesel with fuel oil, and even fuel oil used as the sole fuel.
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