Cuba authorities crack down on transformer oil theft and sabotage

Authorities in Cuba are intensifying efforts to combat the theft and illegal trade of transformer oil, a substance essential for the insulation and cooling of electrical equipment. In Santiago de Cuba, police have apprehended several individuals, including drivers of private passenger transport vehicles, suspected of being involved in the illegal trade. Investigations revealed that some vehicles were using blends of diesel, fuel oil, and stolen transformer oil as fuel.

In the Matanzas province, specifically at the ‘La Conchita’ farm in Colón, five individuals were arrested for allegedly drilling into three transformers to extract dielectric oil. The theft was intended to power an irrigation turbine, but the damage to the units has been classified as sabotage. Matanzas reportedly accounts for over 50% of such thefts in the country, with nearly 100 transformers affected and replacement costs exceeding $500,000.

The removal of this oil renders electrical equipment inoperative, leading to significant power outages that affect residential areas, hospitals, water pumping stations, and agricultural operations. In response to the surge in thefts, authorities have increased roadside inspections to identify vehicles using improper fuel blends.