Havana Energy to sign Cuban biomass plant deal

Energy Business Review/

British firm Havana Energy will sign a previously announced joint venture agreement with Azcuba subsidiary Zerus following an approval from the Cuban government.

The venture is expected to develop a sugar cane bagasse burning biomass energy generating facility in Ciro Redondo in Central Cuba.

Havana Energy CEO Andrew Macdonald was quoted by The Financial Times as saying that, while Zerus will own 51% in Biopower, Havana Energy would own 49% stake.

"We plan to invest about $50m in this first plant in Ciro Redondo, which should be up and running in early 2015," Macdonald said.

Havana Energy Chairman and former British energy minister remarked, "This is a big step forward for the company and for Cuba, and I hope it pushes forward our bilateral economic relations."

The joint venture marks the first such project for the Cuban sugar sector and will generate energy for the national power grid.