Charcoal production increases in Pinar del Rio

HAVANA, Cuba, Jun 14 (acn) The province of Pinar del Rio, with the largest forest area in the country has increased the production of vegetable coal in compliance with the demand of the national and foreign market.

The plan reaches 5 thousand 240 tons, figure that surpasses what was produced in the same period last year and responds firstly, to the needs of the national economy to increase the exportable material at a time in which the prices are favorable in the international market.

According to the specialist of the National Agro Forest Group, Carlos Larred Oliveros, up until now, the goal reached a 119 percent while the exportable predictions in the period is 2 thousand 550 tons.

The largest exports have been to Europe as there are the main charcoal consumers.

Pinar del Rio has in recent years has recovered the coal production, beginning from the incorporation and training of young people in the production and highlights the priority of the attention of the workers in is elaboration.

The use of coal dates back when humanity began using fire, according to documents.

Its productive process is generally carried out in the traditional stoves and for is excellent combustion the rest of the material and hard and semi hard forest species is used as raw materials like the marabou, eucalyptol and others.

In recent years some 40 percent of the total volume of extracted wood in Pinar del Rio is used for direct fuel and for coal production caring for its rational use and in correspondence with the cutting plan.

According to reports on Internet, there are proof that coal was used to mark the figures of indigenous painting dating back to over 15 thousand years in addition to its use as the color black when mixed with grease and blood.