For the tenth year in a row oil production in the Caribbean nation maintains its growth, which in year 2003 was of 3,7%. For the year that has just started the greatest perspectives of growing will be focused on the production of natural gas destined to home services which will be undoubtedly beneficial for the Island’s population.

The cost of the energy in the world in the recently finished year put up the price a 20% above the predictions and the price of the oil barrel went up to 31 dollars, among other causes, due to the influence of the war in Iraq, and a boost in consumption. Amid an international crisis Cuba lessened the impact thanks to its sustained and growing production of crude oil, reaching 4,3 millions tons last year.

For the tenth year in a row oil production in the Caribbean nation keeps peaking up, when in year 2003 was 3,7% higher in comparison to the previous year and it is expected that in year 2004 grows an 8% with respect to the former year, announced in exclusive statements to Opciones magazine the general director of Cuba Oil (CUPET), Fidel Rivero Prieto.

This national oil and the natural gas which comes with it are the main responsible of the generation of more than the 90% of electricity in the country. Other end users are the cement industry, which fully employs national crude as well as more than the 20% of nickel production. Other small amounts are refined with destiny in the asphalt production among others.

At the same time that oil extraction in Cuban territory increases, even installations have been well equipped making them capable of producing and refining this crude. At present they are ready to generate the 100% of electricity in the Island with national crude, nevertheless some work is carried out in some thermoelectric plants in order to increase their ability to assimilate a heavier crude (of 1400 santiestock) which will be a greater benefit for the domestic economy by reducing the expensive solvent for its preparation. So far Diesel imported at elevated prices was used to carry out his process, but since last year Cupet started to substitute it by naphtha extracted from the refining enabling a saving of nearly 20 million dollars in the year.

The take off of the Cuban oil production started in 1993 ever since it has kept a growing rise with figures above the demand of its major clients.

Of the equivalent oil to be produced in year 2004 the greatest growing goes to the production of gas with nearly the 22% in comparison to the former year and main destinies will still be the Electric Union, nickel, cement, the industry of materials, and in a minor scale the refining asserted Cupet´s director.

The increase in gas production will be possible because more installations, under construction, will process larger amounts of this product which previously escaped into the atmosphere and this year will be added the generation of electricity and the supply of natural gas for the population of Havana city.

In year 2004 the natural gas for home services will be treated in two new plants one is already installed and the other one will be finished by the first half of the year while the old ones will remain as backup. The new production will offer services of greater quality to the population with a more efficient combustion and the plants will work with less dependence on electric energy, affirmed Fidel Rivero.

According to the administrative all these plans are calculated given the oil production available in Cuba in the north side of the country, which is mainly concentrated in the western region of the Island and continues to be the primary supplier of oil and the gas that comes with it.

(Taken from: Cubasi)