[NYTr] Cuban Economic Report from ACN - Nov 2, 2007 Date: Sat, 3 Nov 2007 16:07:34 -0500 (CDT) Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit Agencia Cubana de Noticias (ACN) http://ainch.ain.cu/mailman/listinfo/ingles 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 countryBs tour major cement plants. The vice-director of the Construction Material Enterprise, Jorge Perez RancaC1o 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 RenC) 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 countryBs 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. -------------- next part -------------- _______________________________________________ Ingles mailing list Ingles@ain.cu http://ainch.ain.cu/mailman/listinfo/ingles * ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us Our main website: http://www.blythe.org List Archives: http://blythe-systems.com/pipermail/nytr/ Subscribe: http://blythe-systems.com/mailman/listinfo/nytr =================================================================