Solar Panels of ETECSA in Santiago de Cuba Suffer Vandalism

A worker from ETECSA in Santiago de Cuba has publicly reported an incident of vandalism involving stones being thrown at solar panels of the photovoltaic system installed at telephone cabinet number two in the Reparto Flores area. This cabinet is located in the yard of the School of Arts and Crafts. Photos shared on Facebook with the complaint show a stone resting on the photovoltaic panels, which are mounted on an elevated metal structure surrounded by barbed wire and chain-link fencing.

Luis Enrique Torres Almarales, who posted the report, did not mince words: "It's as clear as day, this is a blatant act of sabotage, a malicious attempt to cause damage and destruction to the little we can achieve for the benefit of society."

This incident is not isolated in the region. On May 30, four solar panels were stolen from cabinet number one in the Reparto Flores, leaving a telecommunications node without power backup. The latest incident is distinct due to the method used; instead of stealing the equipment, the perpetrators chose to destroy it with stones.

Rising Trend of Attacks on Infrastructure

This escalation is part of a series of attacks that have targeted ETECSA's infrastructure in Santiago de Cuba throughout 2026. On May 1, a panel was stolen from the Gabinete Integral micro 9-2, disrupting the energy backup for more than 560 landline and Nauta Home users. On June 6, four panels disappeared from cabinet number three in the Reparto Micro 7. Mid-June saw a wave of thefts and sabotage, with three radio bases going offline after cables were cut and breakers were stolen.

In August, Santiago de Cuba was highlighted as one of the provinces with the highest incidence of energy infrastructure thefts throughout the island.

The Human Cost of Vandalism

Torres Almarales emphasized the human toll of each destroyed panel: "For many, losing a solar panel is not just losing a mere piece of equipment; it means losing their savings, projects, ambitions, and above all, being forced back into uncomfortable darkness."

These attacks occur amid the worst energy crisis Cuba has faced in decades. In 2026, blackouts have left nearly three-quarters of the country without electricity simultaneously. Photovoltaic systems in telecommunications cabinets have become the only backup to keep phone and internet services running during outages. Given their high value in the informal market, these imported systems, acquired with significant economic effort, are frequent targets.

In May 2025, the Supreme People's Court issued Ruling 475, instructing courts to classify these acts as sabotage, with penalties ranging from seven to 30 years in prison, life imprisonment, or even the death penalty in the most severe cases.

Torres Almarales did not stop at merely reporting the incident; he demanded exemplary punishments. "The minimum sentence should be 30 years, working in fields overrun with marabú and planting food crops, without pay until the damage is compensated and the affected equipment replaced," he wrote, concluding with a question that encapsulates the frustration of those working to maintain essential services: "How far will this vandalism go? How long will these acts affecting the entire society go unpunished?"