European Union presents program to support Cuban energy policy

HAVANA, Cuba, Feb 26 (ACN) The European Union (EU) presented on Monday in Havana its Program to Support Cuba's Energy Policy in order to help change its energy matrix, reduce the consumption of fossil fuels and replace them with renewable sources (FRE).

This initiative is part of the Multi-annual Indicative Program 2014-2020 of collaboration with Cuba and has a financing of 18 million euros in order to support the implementation of the strategy for the perspective development of MEF, announced Lucía Lacalle, specialist of the delegation in Havana of that community.
Lacalle gave details at a meeting at the headquarters of the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MINEM), in the presence of Cuban guests and UN agencies, on the basis of strengthening negotiation and investment promotion capacities.
In addition, to improve spaces to take advantage of financing opportunities, assess training and equipment needs, develop projects, identify access in rural communities and seek technical solutions aimed at increasing the quality of life of the population.
Alberto Navarro González, EU Ambassador to Cuba, said that the prospects in this field constitute a new contribution to actions to counteract the impact of climate change and suggested the possibility of making faster progress in implementing the objectives.
Minister Raúl García Barreiro described as a major task the goal of achieving 24% participation of clean sources in electricity generation by 2030, which is part of the Policy for the Development Perspective of MEF and Efficient Use of Energy, approved in 2014 by the National Assembly of People's Power.
He proposed, in this sense, to adequately apply the regulatory framework of the EU program, prepare directors and officials, promote foreign investment, have universities and research centers, strengthen energy efficiency in industry and encourage the use of renewables.
The emissions of the sun on the national territory can turn it into an energy power from its use, the rise of knowledge and technology if we only take into account that it receives an average of solar radiation of more than 1,800 Kw/h/ m2 per year, according to MINEM experts.
However, they clarified that energy efficiency is decisive in the scope of this policy, which includes the installation of LED lamps, solar heaters, induction cookers, pumping, photovoltaic solar parks, industrial biogas plants and biodigesters in the residential sector.