[R-G] UN Official: Cuba Has Solved Its Energy Crisis without Sacrificing Its Environment

[Yoshie Furuhashi]

<http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/07/04/news/CB-GEN-Cuba-Energy.php>
UN official: Cuba has solved its energy crisis without sacrificing its
environment

The Associated Press
Wednesday, July 4, 2007

HAVANA: Cuba has solved crippling energy shortages that plagued the
island as recently as 2004 without sacrificing a long-term commitment
to promoting environmentally friendly fuels, the head of the U.N.
Environment Program said Wednesday.

The electric grid still relies too heavily on wasteful gas-flare
reactors and heavy polluting diesel generators, but the communist
government has taken important steps toward developing wind and solar
power, as well as ethanol from sugar cane, said Achim Steiner, the
program's executive director.

"Cuba a few years ago was facing a real energy crisis, 16 hours of ...
electricity cuts and therefore a realization that the economy was
going to collapse under this system," said Steiner, in Havana for a
conference on the environment and development.

"In terms of a short term response, it is quite remarkable how Cuba,
under its economic conditions, managed to solve that crisis," he said.

At a news conference, Steiner said "Cuba can look proudly at having
solved a short-term crisis with a long-term commitment toward cleaner
energy." He said his organization wanted to "put a spotlight on Cuba's
efforts."

Just three years ago, the country was hit by blackouts that wounded
the economy while enraging a population suffering through the
merciless summer months without air conditioning, fans or any way to
refrigerate food.

The government's response was a sweeping "energy revolution" that
included an overall of the antiquated electrical grid, as well
conservation drives.

Fidel Castro appeared on television nearly daily to explain
improvements in excruciating detail and government workers went door
to door in many neighborhoods, replacing incandescent light bulbs with
more-efficient alternatives.

Steiner praised the energy revolution, but noted that things were far
from ideal. A gas reactor throws a plume of dark smoke over Havana's
otherwise idyllic bay and most vehicles here use leaded gasoline and
diesel that fill the air with pollutants.

Meanwhile, Cuba's economy has recovered well after the 1991 collapse
of the Soviet Union cost Havana billions in generous subsidies. But
that recovery has largely been fueled by oil-rich Venezuela, whose
socialist president, Hugo Chavez, provides the island with oil at
favorable prices.
--
Yoshie