Fidel Castro Announces Solution to Energy
Shortages in Cuba
In a speech dedicated to domestic economic
issues, Cuban president Fidel Castro has assured that energy shortages
will be definitely solved in the next 18 months, among other benefits
the people will enjoy in the short and medium term.
In a special public appearance on Thursday night, the head of state
projected that from the second half of next year onward people will be
able to sleep peacefully without unpleasant blackouts, as the
“generation capacity will be so big there will be no risk of shortages”.
Addressing an audience of leading politicians, military officers and
leaders of social organizations gathered at Havana´s Convention Center,
the Cuban president warned over false expectations of an immediate end
to blackouts, but he did assure that solutions would soon be on the
stream.
He said a lot is bound to change before the end of this year when new
“extremely economical” generating capacities come into operation in the
national power grid.
After saying the plan did not depend on miraculous formulas, but on a
series of investments to improve the performance of several power
plants, Fidel Castro called on the people to rest assured that soon the
country will have enough reserve capacities, even during peak
consumption hours.
He also advanced the possibility of having around 300,000 kilowatts
reserved to guarantee operation of the water system, hospitals and other
important facilities “in case any unexpected deficit in power occurs.”
Only something crazy could give rise to a very complicated situation, he
said, referring to possible plans of aggression against Venezuela or
assassination attempts against that country´s president, Hugo Chavez,
were carried out.
We are well prepared for everything, Fidel Castro stressed, expressing
assurance that a problem which has worried most Cubans will be solved.
Among other issues, he focused on housing, making emphasis on plans for
a significant increase in home construction, the improvement of life
conditions in general for the people and the progressive recovery of the
value of the national currency.
He denied the measures announced had anything to do with the forthcoming
legislative elections (April 17). Those who thought the measures being
taken was the result of an electoral campaign for the oncoming poll were
wrong, he asserted.
The Cuban president ruled out the idea the social benefits were aimed to
increase people´s turnout to polling stations to elect local government
bodies next April 17. He recalled that in past years despite the
hardships, local elections usually had an average turnout of 95 per cent
of registered voters.
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