Havana Energy announces second biomass plant in Cuba

Following the 62 MW Ciro Redondo biomass plant, the British-Chinese group Havana Energy is moving ahead with another 62 MW biomass plant at Mario Muñoz sugar mill. The project, estimated at a cost of $140 million investment, is expected to begin later this year and take two years to complete. The significant investment marks the largest of its kind by a foreign group. Cuba has ambitious plans of obtaining 24% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030, though the country has faced difficulty attracting would-be investors. Efforts to secure financing for potential projects have been delayed and/or hindered partly due to the US embargo making investment difficult even for non-U.S. banks. When the first two of Havana Energy’s plants open they will contribute 4 percent more to Cuba’s renewable energy share, and that will be a big attraction for banks estimates Andrew MacDonald, President of Havana Energy. “Seeing is believing, and as we gain traction, as banks see four tons of biomass equals one of ton of fossil fuel, I think that’s going to bring a quantum leap in financing over the next 24 months,” said MacDonald.

 

 

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