Cuba and Germany to Work Together in Renewable Energy

HAVANA, Cuba, Jan 8 (acn) The interest in promoting investment and cooperation in renewable energy with Cuba was expressed on Friday in this capital by Sigmar Gabriel, Deputy Foreign Minister (FM) and Federal Minister of the Economy and Energy of Germany.

As part of his official visit to the Caribbean nation, Gabriel and a representation of entrepreneurs accompanying him met on Friday with Alfredo Lopez, Cuban Minister of Energy and Mines.
During the meeting, issues such as the development of Renewable Energy Sources (RES) in Cuba and the experiences of the Federal Republic of Germany, one of the leading countries in this field, were reviewed.
In this context, both parties identified joint projects for the development and promotion of RES and explored business opportunities in the sector of oil and gas.
Cuba, with high dependence on fossil fuels to produce electricity, seeks to reverse its energy matrix with the support of programs aimed at encouraging alternative sources that do not cause environmental damage.
Strategies include the construction of wind and photovoltaic parks, as well as capacity building of power generation by way of small hydroelectric and bioelectrical plants, and the use of sugarcane biomass, in addition to other programs aimed at saving electricity.
During his stay in Cuba, which ended on Friday, the federal Deputy FM developed an intense program of activities that included meetings with Miguel Diaz-Canel, First Vice-president of the Councils of State and Ministers, and the ministers of the Economy, Energy and Mines, Industry and Foreign Trade and Investment.
The previous day he chaired a business forum with the participation of more than 50 businessmen, representatives of big German consortiums and small and medium-size companies.