Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Sept 20 : India has offered to help Cuba develop its renewable energy resources. This was conveyed by Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy to Marino Murillo, Vice President of the Republic of Cuba at Havana.
Dr. Farooq Abdullah is visiting Cuba along with a high level delegation of experts to explore greater opportunities for cooperation and collaboration between the two countries. Dr. Abdullah also held detailed discussions with Alfredo Lopez Valdes, the Cuban Minister of Energy and Mines.
Dr. Abdullah briefed his counterpart on the energy situation in India and India’s ambitious plans in renewable energy. He explained that India currently has over 29 GW of grid-connected installed capacity using renewable sources of energy and that it has plans to add over 30 GW more capacity by 2017. He also dwelt on the success of India’s wind programme as well as the significant cost reductions in solar energy through the Jawahar Lal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM).
Both Mr. Murillo and Mr. Valdez informed the Indian Minister of Cuba’s strong desire to diversify its energy mix by exploiting its renewable energy resources, especially in wind and bagasse-based cogeneration projects. They sought India’s support and expertise in helping Cuba achieve this objective. Dr. Abdullah offered India’s support and expertise in setting up renewable projects as well as in capacity building and project preparation. He also urged the Cuban side to take advantage of the Lines of Credit offered by India in setting up renewable energy projects.
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