Amid the worst power crisis in Cuba, fueled by U.S. blockades and other factors, thefts targeting and damaging the national power grid are reportedly running rampant.

According to reports on July 31 (local time) by the Spanish-language media Infobae, citing a report from the Cuban Prosecutor General's Office, the number of cases booked or prosecuted for crimes related to the National Electric System (SEN) reached 460 over a one-year period from May 2025 to the first half of this year.

Breaking down the theft cases by type, thefts of high-voltage transmission tower components, such as insulating oil and copper from transformers, accounted for the majority with over 300 cases.

In particular, if insulating oil leaks from a transformer, it loses its cooling and insulation functions, which can lead to explosions and paralysis of the transmission network, making the damage particularly severe.

The damage was concentrated in major provinces across the country, including Matanzas, Ciego de Ávila, Mayabeque, and Santiago de Cuba.

There were also successive cases of cutting and stealing cables, wires, and bolts from power distribution networks, as well as vandalism of solar power plant facilities.

In some incidents, individuals attempted crimes while high-voltage current was flowing through the power lines, resulting in them being electrocuted to death at the scene.

Cuban authorities have classified crimes targeting the power grid as sabotage that undermines national security and stated their policy to severely punish offenders with heavy sentences.

The prosecution stated that the majority of defendants brought to trial this year for illegal acts against the power grid received heavy prison sentences ranging from 9 to 20 years, and that pretrial detention was carried out for 87% of the defendants.

Cuba has been suffering from its worst energy crisis due to tightened U.S. sanctions since January of this year.

There have been as many as 7 total blackouts this year where the SEN completely collapsed.

Cuba requires about 100,000 barrels of crude oil per day to supply normal electricity, but its own production is only around 40,000 barrels, suffering from a chronic supply shortage.

The power crisis is showing signs of worsening day by day.

The Cuban Electric Union (UNE) forecasted that a power supply shortfall of 2,410 MW (megawatts) would occur during nighttime peak hours on this day.

This level amounts to failing to meet 75.3% of the total power demand.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)