The Cuban police have apprehended the culprits behind the theft of over 50 beams and several solar panels from the Juan Pérez II Solar Park in Niquero, located in Granma. The government-aligned platform, Get Informed with Aytana Alama, reported the incident without providing details about the suspects, leading many to speculate that they may have been employees at the site.
The stolen items, which included more than 50 beams and an unspecified number of panels, were reportedly in storage and not yet operational. This incident is not an isolated one; similar thefts have occurred in these strategically important parks, underscoring the challenges faced by Cuba's communist regime in maintaining control over its energy resources. Such reports also seem to serve as a distraction from the public's growing dissatisfaction with the frequent power outages and act as a warning that any related unrest will be met with harsh consequences.
In an earlier case this June, authorities detained two individuals for allegedly stealing five metal beams from a solar park still under construction in Colón, Matanzas. According to an official source, Ariel Andrés Hernández was caught transporting the beams—each measuring between 3 and 4 meters—on an electric tricycle near the Perico-Colón highway. The beams were reportedly acquired with the help of Juan Manuel Contreras Ordóñez, the security guard for the Deseada farm's solar facility.
Back in February, police in Jovellanos, also in Matanzas, discovered that stolen goods from a solar park were being sold in the local market. Major Yadira Prieto Vega, head of MININT’s instruction division, noted that experts from the park identified the stolen screws, which were being illegally sold by private vendors, as they are not available through any legal channels. "These screws are used in assembling both the tables and the direct installation of solar panels," she stated on national television. The investigation has yet to determine how these screws were stolen from the construction site and made their way to the market, with only a portion of them recovered so far.
In December 2024, reports surfaced about the theft of solar panels powering water pumping systems in rural communities of Las Tunas, where access to water is limited. The Cuban government has warned that those involved in these thefts could face charges of sabotage, a crime that carries harsher penalties, as these acts impact the national electrical system.
Frequently Asked Questions on Solar Park Thefts in Cuba
What was stolen from the Juan Pérez II Solar Park?
Over 50 beams and an unspecified number of solar panels were stolen from the Juan Pérez II Solar Park in Niquero, Granma.
Why are these thefts significant for Cuba?
These thefts are significant because they target strategically important solar parks that are crucial for Cuba's energy infrastructure, affecting the national power grid and potentially worsening the frequent power outages in the country.
What charges could the thieves face?
Those involved in the thefts could be charged with sabotage, a serious offense in Cuba that carries severe penalties, especially when related to the national electro-energy system.