Ciego de Avila, August 2 (RHC)-- The export of over 12,000 tons of charcoal to Europe thus far this year has yielded significant benefits to local sector in central Cuba, whose export plan totals 24 thousand tons 2014.

The agricultural center in the locality of Ceballos, in Ciego de Avila province has traditionally marketed the product, which is made from a horny bush known by its Spanish name Marabú, a very good vegetable species to produce charcoal by local farmers in central and eastern Cuba, said the enterprise’s general vice-director Alba Gonzalez.

The official explained that there is significant interest in the European market for the Cuban charcoal, due to its high quality.

The Ceballos plant is the leading company in the sector, although there are several other entities producing charcoal for export.

Marabú is a bush of negative impact for agriculture as it infests large extensions of land with its horny bushes; however it is considered a source of high quality charcoal.