[NYTr] Cuban Economic Report from ACN - Nov 2, 2007

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

Agencia Cubana de Noticias (ACN)
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Cuban Economic Report - Nov 2, 2007


Increasing Zeolite Extraction in Central Cuba

The extraction and processing of zeolite in Central Villa Clara 
province show progressive growth, with 1,500 tons of the mineral this 
year.

The director of the Zeolite processing plant in the locality of 
Ranchuelo, Sergio Ruiz told reporters that the recovery of major local 
markets for the mineral which, after being processed with nutrients, 
nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium,  is highly demanded as a 
fertilizer, particularly for potato cultivation.

The Villa Clara Zeolite plant is a major provider for citrus fruit 
enterprises and other companies, which export the mineral to Europe as 
a ferilizer for olive plantation and an effective agent against insects 
that attack crops such as apples, pears and grapes.

Ruiz said that over the next months an important investment will 
benefit the technical conditions of the plant, which will have a direct 
impact in its production.

Local Zeolite reserves in the Villa Clara Tasajera-piojillo locality is 
25 kilometers large, but only 0,8 kilometers have been under research 
for exploitation, which reveals the abundance of the useful mineral in 
the central region.


Cuba Upgrades Gypsum Processing Industry

A Cuban gypsum extraction and processing plant, which possesses the 
country?s largest reserves of that mineral,  in central-eastern Ciego 
de Avila province, is undergoing huge modernization to increase its 
production
capacities.

The plant currently produces 250 tons of the mineral every month, which 
are transported as raw material for the country’s tour major cement 
plants.

The vice-director of the Construction Material Enterprise, Jorge Perez 
Rancaño told reporters that the company has received a group of parts 
and components for field equipment, while they have already replaced 
old mechanical equipment and repaired others in the industry.

The improvement of the company also includes the renovation of
transportation means, though enterprise workers have managed to recover 
other transportation equipment which are still useful.

At present one ton of gypsum sells at between 90 and 100 dollars at the 
international market, while that cost of that gypsum production in the 
country translates into only 30 or 35 dollars.

Gypsum has isolating properties; it can balance environment humidity 
and has considerable plasticity, which makes it very useful for 
different aims.


Cuba Experts Exchange on Wind Energy Projects

The planning and setting up of wind farms was high on the agenda of the 
2nd Convention on Territorial Planning held in Havana. Cuban experts 
exchanged on the introduction of wind energy in the island.

Expert René Castellanos told reporters that Cuba has very recent 
experience in the field, since the first specialized team in wind 
energy was set up just last year to study possible locations for future 
wind farms.

Serious difficulties faced by the country’s electric system led to the 
need to look at other energy sources, including wind power.  However, 
different factors must be taken into consideration when addressing this 
type of energy, said Castellanos.

He explained that in order to installed the huge towers bearing energy 
generators, you must bear in mind natural conditions like 
accessibility, seismic and environmental characteristics of the area, 
sedimentation of the land, existing human settlements, among other 
aspects.

The expert group, made up of meteorologists, architects and other
professionals, is currently considering economic, social and 
environmental conditions of possible areas for wind farms. Such a 
comprehensive valuation has allowed specialists to identify areas to 
set up future wind farms, particularly in coastal zones.

Cuba only has two wind farms in operations, while another one is under 
construction. Wind energy has many advantages including its friendly 
environmental impact and the low investment cost.


Cubans continue to Boost Agriculture Diversification

As part of the diversification and restructuring of the sugar industry 
underway since in 2002, Cubans continue to use large extensions of land 
formerly dedicated to grow sugar cane, to produce a wide gamut of 
produce for local consumption.

The program has noticeably developed in eastern Las Tunas province 
where new plantations have yielded over 26,000 tons of root vegetable, 
beans and fresh vegetables this year.

The yield is directly funnelled to rural communities, which is 
considered a significant contribution to the current recovery of 
agricultural activity in the eastern territory which, after a prolonged 
drought, has experienced a favourable rainy season.

The lands formerly dedicated to sugar cane plantations are also being 
used to grow timber forests and develop livestock, said Manuel Justo, 
vice-director of the agricultural enterprise with the Sugar Ministry in 
Las Tunas.

Justo explained that over 2, 400 new trees were planted this year in 
areas that belonged to sugar enterprises, while more than two and a 
half million of milk were produced in the territory. He also said that 
buffalo raising is also being developed with success in Las Tunas as 
part of a program undertaken in different Cuban provinces.


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