As Havana grapples with frequent blackouts, it has come to light that a portion of the fuel meant to power the city's generators has been diverted into the tanks of local cab drivers.
This revelation was brought to light by a program on the state-run channel, Canal Caribe, which exposed a network involved in the theft and illegal sale of diesel from the capital's power sites. This scheme was reportedly facilitated by employees within the system and local residents.
The most egregious case took place at the Berroa power generator. Lieutenant Colonel Asmel Rojas Águila, the deputy head of the economic-social department of the Ministry of the Interior (MININT), explained that operators, brigade leaders, security personnel, and nearby residents colluded to systematically siphon off fuel.
Stolen diesel was stored in two adjacent homes and sold to private transport operators, including both legal and illegal cab drivers. The official shared evidence including 20 and 25-liter tanks, cash, and mobile phones that were part of the clandestine operation.
"In agreement, operators, brigade leaders, security agents, and neighbors would seize the fuel, which was then sold to cab drivers," the official stated during the "Hacemos Cuba" program.
The Havana Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that the case is in the preliminary investigative stage, with those involved facing sabotage charges—a crime under Cuban law punishable by seven to thirty years in prison.
"Given the harm it causes to the electro-energy system and the populace, these acts are being prosecuted as sabotage," explained chief prosecutor Yudenia San Miguel Ramírez.
The televised report also highlighted similar incidents. In Güines, Mayabeque, small farmers used horse-drawn carts to purchase fuel stolen from power generators, using it to power turbines or plow fields.
At Habana 220, a diesel spill onto electrical cables posed a fire hazard that could have decimated the entire site, according to Unión Eléctrica officials.
Rojas Águila further disclosed that from January to August 2025, MININT recovered over 350,000 liters of stolen fuel, though much of the pilfered diesel remains unrecovered.
The power generation company and CUPET have vowed to tighten internal controls, acknowledging the difficulty in detecting such thefts, often involving managers and security staff.
Officials emphasized during the broadcast that fuel theft not only has an economic impact but directly affects thousands of families who rely on these generators during power outages.
They noted that a single stolen liter of diesel could mean hours of darkness for an entire neighborhood. According to official estimates, the 350,000 liters recovered could have powered 5,500 homes for a month.
In closing, the program's host issued a warning that resonated beyond the studio:
"Stealing the people's resources is always severe. But when it's the fuel that keeps Cuban lights on, the damage is compounded. Those who steal this fuel leave us all in darkness."
Key Questions About Fuel Theft in Cuba
How did the fuel theft operation in Havana function?
The operation involved employees and local residents who systematically stole fuel from power generators, stored it in nearby homes, and sold it to private transport operators, including cab drivers.
What legal consequences do those involved in the theft face?
Those implicated in the theft face charges of sabotage, a serious crime under Cuban law that can result in prison sentences ranging from seven to thirty years.
What impact does fuel theft have on Cuban communities?
Fuel theft has significant economic repercussions and directly affects families who rely on generators during power outages, potentially leaving entire neighborhoods without electricity.