Sharing our successes with our Caribbean brothers
SPEECH BY CARLOS LAGE, VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL OF STATE OF THE
REPUBLIC OF CUBA, FOR THE PETROCARIBE SUMMIT MEETING IN CARACAS, VENEZUELA.
Taken from Granma of Aug. 11, 2007. Read Spanish Version
Esteemed Heads of State and Government and representatives of countries united by one sea,
The human species that inhabits our planet Earth has not demonstrated:
• Capacity for peaceful coexistence.
• Determination to preserve the environment.
• Intelligence to produce sufficient energy for its members in a sustainable fashion.
These are three great challenges, not the only ones, which we must face responsibly, so that future generations do not accuse us of committing passive genocide.
As Evo and Chávez have said, bio-fuels, more correctly referred to as agro-fuels, are being presented to us as the magic solution for the approaching energy crisis. To realize that this is not the case, it would suffice to do the simple arithmetic: no complex mathematical calculations are needed, just arithmetic.
The United States, in order to reach the goal of producing 35 billion gallons of alternative fuel by 2017, set by their president, and to substitute 20% of the fuel consumed by cars, must harvest 320 million tons of corn. Today, as the leading producer and largest exporter of corn in the world, it produces less than this; it produces 280 million tons.
We are not even mentioning the amount of fuel consumed in the production of corn and other cereals, directly and by the use of fertilizers, herbicides and other needs, or of the carbon dioxide which is emitted into the atmosphere by these processes.
There are even some who doubt that the net fuel balance will be positive and that the final result will be less contamination.
It would be well worthwhile to wonder why, in a world where 800 million starving people live in poor conditions, something that so obviously makes food prices go up, leads us to consume more water and to plunder forests, should be imposed on us without any solution.
One need not be a scientist to figure it out.
• The North seeks to extend its domination over the South even more.
• Multinationals will have the most to gain from this new business.
• Rich countries do not want to renounce the irrational consumerism of their privileged societies.
• Our countries’ lands will be bought by Soros, Bill Gates, Monsanto, Archer, Syngenta, and others like them, by virtue of blind market rules.
We must find an answer to the inevitable exhaustion of fossil fuels through rationality, economy, integration. It is the thesis upheld by Fidel.
Petrocaribe must be a way of guaranteeing our region’s energy security, not a simple commercial instrument; a mechanism for integration, not merely an extension of markets; an instrument used to solve social problems, not an accumulation of capital. An endeavor which is based on being complementary, on the recognition of inequalities and on solidarity, has a future ahead of it which is as bright as we can dream of.
Today, no other oil-producing country in the world promotes an initiative as strategic, just and generous. Since June 29, 2005, when we met for the first time, we have taken steps forward and run into obstacles. The next two years could witness many more steps forward and far fewer obstacles. Realism and optimism must take center stage at this meeting.
Cuba is not here today as a beneficiary of the commercial facilities of Petrocaribe. At the Puerto La Cruz meeting, where Petrocaribe was officially constituted, Fidel affirmed that we would not avail ourselves of the economic advantages, even if they are greater than those of Caracas agreement to which we are a party.
Petrocaribe had to consolidate itself first, focusing all of its energy and efforts on the region’s smallest economies. Today, we ratify that position.
Our country has worked to contribute its experience in the area of saving fuel.
A program aimed at replacing incandescent bulbs with energy-saving ones, carried out by young Cubans, is already yielding positive results.
In Venezuela, 53 million bulbs have already been replaced in the residential sector. A reduction of 1400 and 1100 MW, in the peak energy demand and by improved services, respectively, has been confirmed, which means that over a billion dollars in fuel and no less than 2.4 billion dollars in investments are being saved every year. Work is currently underway in the public sector.
In eleven Caribbean countries (Jamaica, Guyana, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, Suriname and Saint Lucia), over 4 million bulbs have been replaced, lowering the peak energy demand by 139 MW, which translates into over 40 million dollars in yearly fuel savings and no less than 160 million dollars saved in investments.
Experience related to more efficient generation, distributed generation, the reduction of losses in networks and the recycling of electric and combustion equipment has also been shared.
PDVSA of Venezuela and CUPET of Cuba have set in motion TRANSLABA, a cost-efficient joint venture company for fuel transportation for countries in the area. Before the close of the year, an oil refinery capable of producing 65 thousand barrels of oil a day will be in operation in southern Cuba and talks are already underway to construct a storage base and distribution center which could benefit the region.
What we have done in Cuba does not suffice and we are not wholly satisfied with our achievements or our modest contribution, but we would like to assure our Caribbean brothers that we will share all our successes with you.
Thank you very much.
