With the presence of Manuel Marrero Cruz, member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and Prime Minister of the Republic, the III International Fair of Renewable Energies and Energy Efficiency was inaugurated at the Pabexpo fairgrounds in this capital.

Vicente de la O Levy, Minister of Energy and Mines, acknowledged that the development of renewable sources and the rational use of energy is a fundamental requirement in the construction of socialism, the fight against climate change and the fulfilment of the Sustainable Development Goals.

De la O Levy stressed that achieving the full participation of clean energy in the Caribbean nation’s energy matrix is a projection that is being worked on intensively and involves technological challenges, a cultural change and the involvement of society.

He referred to the updating of the Policy for the Development of Renewable Sources and the Efficient Use of Energy, approved in 2014 and led by the Commander of the Revolution Ramiro Valdés Menéndez, deputy prime minister of the country, who was also present at the meeting.

He argued that the strategy outlined has a comprehensive character and conceives the main objectives, actions, tasks and goals to ensure a safe and just energy transition to environmentally friendly technologies.

Despite the intensification of unilateral measures imposed by the US government on the largest of the Antilles and the complex economic scenario, progress is being made based on this vision, he said.

Francisco Pichón, Resident Coordinator of the United Nations System, stated that energy constitutes one of the priorities within the area of productive transformation and joint cooperation with Cuba, which is why initiatives to promote this sector cannot be postponed.

Isabel Brilhante Pedrosa, Ambassador of the European Union in the archipelago, emphasised the commitment of both parties to the implementation of clean energy through links with all social and economic actors.

In this sense, the European regional bloc is one of the main allies, she explained.

Heads of other ministries, ambassadors and representatives of various international organisations also attended the event, and joined the tour of the various stands at the Fair.

As part of the event, the nation’s strategy for the transition to clean sources will be discussed, and there will be an investment forum for the change of the energy matrix, as well as workshops, roundtables and keynote speeches.

The 3rd International Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Fair, under the slogan «A new opportunity to participate in Cuba’s energy transition», will run until 20 September.