India to help Cuba develop Renewable Energy resources

India has offered to help Cuba develop its renewable energy resources. This was conveyed by Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Minister of New and Renewable Energy to Mr. 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 Mr. 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 over 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 recalled India’s long standing and traditionally warm relations with Cuba and said that India has always supported the Cuban nation and its people. He 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. Earlier Dr. Abdullah was given a brief on the achievements of Cuba in universalizing health care resulting in significant reductions in infant mortality and increase in life expectancy. He also visited the local polyclinic to understand first-hand the health systems and had detailed discussions there.