Havana, Cuba, July 7 (ACN/RHC)-- Cuba will conclude in August a gas pipeline that will make it possible to reclaim for use 150 thousand cubic meters of gas that were previously being wasted. The pipeline is a strategic investment that will impact on energy and fuel conservation in Cuba, Minister of Energy and Mining Alfredo Lopez told parliamentarians in Havana.

He said gas pipeline will be operated by the Cuba-Canada joint venture Energas and that the thrust of the investment is oriented to power generation.

Addressing the Parliament's Committee on Industry, Construction and Energy, the minister said additional projects seeking to boost the use of renewable energy using solar, water, wind and biomass sources are also being implemented. He said several foreign companies have shown an interest in participating in electricity generation using alternative sources available in Cuba.

Another project scheduled for completion this year is a new acid producing plant at the Moa Nickel Company which will contribute to substituting imports of sulfuric acid, an essential component in the process of nickel exploitation.

Cuba depends heavily on fossil fuels to produce electricity but it is seeking to reverse its energy matrix using environment friendly, alternative sources of energy.