Cuban content creator Niorleidis embarked on a journey to Baltony, located in the Songo-La Maya municipality of Santiago de Cuba, to visit her family, only to discover that the community had been without power for over two weeks due to the theft of oil from local transformers.
"From bad to worse, what can I say? They've been without electricity for over two weeks, I believe," she shared in a reel posted on Instagram this Thursday, where she documented her experience in the rural area.
The extended blackout was not solely due to the national energy crisis but was compounded by a recurring issue in Cuba: the theft of dielectric oil from transformers.
This oil acts as an insulator and coolant, so its removal renders the equipment unusable. The disruptions to the electrical service can last for days or even weeks.
Rural Hardships and Ingenious Solutions
"The issue was that the oil from the transformers had been stolen. In the end, it's always the innocent who suffer," Niorleidis lamented in the video.
Without power, her grandmother's household appliances were rendered completely useless.
"Yes, there are appliances in the house, but there's no electricity. Without power, it's as if those appliances don't exist," she explained while showcasing rice cookers and electric stoves.
To prepare a small child's milk, she had to resort to using a wood-fired stove, something she was unfamiliar with. "If there's one thing I'm terrible at, it's this," she admitted with a laugh while struggling to light the fire.
A partial solution came from the resources they brought with them. "We brought a small solar panel that was incredibly helpful," she recounted, adding that she also carried a portable rechargeable fan to care for the child.
The Widespread Problem of Oil Theft
The phenomenon of dielectric oil theft has spread across the island with severe consequences. In the same municipality of Songo-La Maya, a man lost his life and another was injured on April 11 when a transformer exploded during an attempted oil theft.
In Amancio, Las Tunas, the theft of 600 liters left 40% of the municipality, about 4,947 customers, without power for more than 48 hours.
Baltony, the community Niorleidis visited, also bears the scars of decades of neglect. Once home to a thriving sugar mill employing up to 3,175 workers during harvest, it was shut down in the 2000s during the sugar industry crisis driven by the regime.
As described in a chronicle about the place, "what was once prosperous is now just another impoverished area in the country, shrouded in darkness due to the energy crisis."
Niorleidis concluded her video with a poignant question: "How long will this continue?"
Understanding Cuba's Energy Challenges
What is causing the prolonged power outages in Cuban rural areas?
The extended power outages in rural Cuba are primarily due to the theft of dielectric oil from transformers, which is exacerbating the existing national energy crisis.
How does the theft of dielectric oil affect the power supply?
Dielectric oil serves as an insulator and coolant for transformers. When stolen, it leaves the transformers inoperable, leading to extended service disruptions.
What solutions have residents found to cope with power outages?
Residents have resorted to using solar panels and portable rechargeable devices to mitigate the impact of power outages.