• Submitted by: manso
• Business and Economy
• 02 / 23 / 2011

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English.news.cn   2011-02-22 12:58:54. HAVANA, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Cuban agricultural authorities will take steps to boost the charcoal production for the international market, Cuba's official Granma daily said on Monday.

To achieve that goal, the eastern province of Ciego de Avila (430 km east of Havana) has begun to operate a plant "with European technology", which will provide 3,000 tons per year of charcoal.

The Granma did not specify the original European country or the start date of operation.

The plant uses as raw material the marabou bush, a thorny shrub of the legume family, which is considered as a plague in Cuba.

The Cuban government is launching currently a media campaign to eliminate the bush throughout the island.

According to the daily, about 1,800 tons of charcoal were exported to Turkey, Spain, Italy and Portugal among other clients from the Ciego de Avila province alone in 2010, while some 100 tons were left for domestic consumption.

Source: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/business/2011-02/22/c_13743738.htm