Authorities in Matanzas have implemented a system for road verification to analyze the fuel of vehicles and detect potential mixes with stolen dielectric oil from electrical transformers, amidst a wave of thefts that has caused serious damage to the network.
The state telecenter TV Yumurí reported that the measure has begun to be implemented in a province that, according to data released by that source, currently accounts for 60% of the registered thefts of dielectric oil in Cuba.
The inspection points have staff from the Fuel Marketing Company, responsible for taking and analyzing diesel samples to determine if they contain stolen dielectric oil.
More than just a simple roadside check, the strategy aims to curb the wave of thefts and also serve as a deterrent measure: those using the stolen product now know that the fuel in their vehicles can be subjected to analysis and reveal possible mixtures with oil from transformers.
The measure targets not only those who extract the lubricant from the electrical infrastructure but also the subsequent chain of receiving, marketing, and utilization 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 has recorded more than 90 damaged transformers and economic losses exceeding half a million dollars solely due to 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 removal can lead to failures and take equipment out of service, further prolonging power outages in communities that are already suffering from extensive blackouts.
TV Yumurí explained that Cuba produces this oil at the Sergio Soto Refinery for transformers of up to 33 kilovolts, while higher voltage equipment requires imported products.
According to the same source, the international price of oil intended for those devices ranges from three to 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 caused disruptions to agricultural production, water supply, and other essential services, further exacerbating the already deteriorating energy situation in the country.
The extent of the problem in the province had already been acknowledged months earlier.
In May, authorities acknowledged 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 over 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 health center.
The sequence of robberies has 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 started to become more evident in investigations.
This Thursday, it was reported that several people were arrested in Santiago de Cuba for the alleged 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 detected, according to the official report, mixtures of diesel with dielectric oil, diesel with fuel oil, and even fuel oil used as the sole fuel.
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