Cuba: New Gas Pipeline to Impact on Fuel Saving

HAVANA, Cuba, Jul 6 (acn) Cuba will conclude in August a gas pipeline that will make it possible to recover 150 thousand cubic meters of gas, a strategic investment that impacts on saving that fuel, informed on Tuesday in this capital Alfredo Lopez, Minister of Energy and Mines.

In the presence of the deputies of the Parliament's Committee on Industry, Construction and Energy, met prior to its seventh regular period of sessions, the minister went into detail about the projects aimed at increasing the use of solar, water, wind and biomass energy sources to generate electricity.
According to Lopez, at a time when greater fuel saving is demanded in the country, one of the benefits of the gas pipeline operated by the joint venture Energas will be the recovery of gases from the environment, which will be used in power generation.
The minister also announced that progress is being made in an important program for oil prospecting, restoration of mains and manufactured gas measurement, and in the expansion of capacity for the production of liquefied gas from petroleum.
Another project which is expected to materialize this year will be a new acid plant of the Moa Nickel Company S.A., which will contribute to the replacement of imports of sulfuric acid, an essential component in the process of nickel exploitation.
In his report to parliamentarians, the minister assured that in the Special Development Area of Mariel necessary actions from the point of view of electrical infrastructure are executed, to ensure adequate conditions for users.
He added that special emphasis in the investment process is made on renewable energy sources, with the increase of wind and photovoltaic parks, as well as bioelectric and small hydroelectric plants, to be implemented through numerous ways of funding.
In this regard, Lopez highlighted the interest of several foreign companies to participate in projects for electricity generation from alternative sources in the country.
Cuba, with high dependence on fossil fuels to produce electricity, seeks to reverse its energy matrix with the support of various programs to encourage other sources that do not cause environmental damage.