[Marxism] Cuba's electricity problems

["andypollack@xxxxxxxx" <andypollack@xxxxxxxx>]

Cuba holds a "Round Table" on TV, the first of several projected, to discuss 
concrete details of problems with the nation's electricity. Can you imagine the 
same on US TV vis-a-vis the 8/14/2003 blackout -- about which almost nothing 
has yet been done? Rather than an honest, practical discussion of the various 
aspects of the problem, as appears to be the case here, you'd get a series of 
bullshit speeches from private utilities and their paid puppets in Washington.

Walter, you got more details on this?

I raise this not just as a propaganda point; after the blackout one utility 
workers union in the US said they'd been complaining for years about the lack 
of maintenance on the electricity transmission system; when it happens again we 
should demand they have access to the airwaves to say what they know!
-----------
Via NY Transfer News Collective  *  All the News that Doesn't Fit

Agencia Cubana de Noticias (AIN)
http://www.ain.cu

Fidel Castro says Electricity Problems are not Fuel Related

Havana, Sept 28 (AIN) Cuban President Fidel Castro affirmed that the current
problems in electricity output are unrelated to fuel, since supply is
sufficient at the country?s power plants.

The Cuban leader described the breakdown of the generator rotor at the
Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric facility in Matanzas province as a serious
problem affecting the nation?s power output.

Fidel Castro took part in Monday evening?s ?The Round Table? TV and radio
program devoted to analyzing the difficulties in the nation?s electrical
supply system, their causes and formulas and measures designed to cope with
the consequences.

In a detailed explanation about the National Electrical System its
facilities and operations, "The Round Table" provided the Cuban
population
details about the condition of the Matanzas plant, out of service since May
5 when it was shut down for routine maintenance.

During the broadcast the Cuban President insisted on the need to provide the
people with the maximum amount of information in order to understand the
magnitude of the problem, the measures adopted and the reasons why the
solution could not be immediate.

The severity of the damage caused delays, requiring the use of special
facilities abroad to repair the part which is the heart of the generator,
explained Fidel Castro.

Prior to the explanation by specialists of Union Electrica, the state
company belonging to the Ministry of Basic Industry, Fidel made it clear
that the present shortage in the power supply is in no way related to the
lack of fuel, despite the record world market prices for oil.

Due to the importance that this topic has for the nation?s population, Fidel
said it would be necessary to make use of several Round Tables in order to
fully cover the scope of the situation.

He then quizzed the experts on the present design and situation of the
National Electrical System, the level of the current and past fuel
consumption of each of the power plants and the efficiency and use of
different domestically produced energy sources including heavy crude oil and
natural gas.

President Castro requested information about the maximum generating capacity
and the country?s peak demand, which in past years reached an unsustainable
7 percent annual growth.

He noted the timely adoption of energy saving measures combined with a
program to modernize power plants to increase generating capacity.

After the information provided by the director of electricity generation,
Juan Manuel Presas and the Director of the Antonio Guiteras power plant,
Carlos Duran, Fidel Castro suggested that the analysis of the topic be
continued on Tuesday?s program.

Carlos Lage, Secretary of the Executive Committee of the Council of
Ministers, Alfredo Lopez, Minister of the Fishing Industry and former
Director General of Union Electrica and other officials of the Ministry of
Basic Industry participated on Monday?s The Round Table program.

                                *
Search the NYTr Archives at:
http://olm.blythe-systems.com/pipermail/nytr/

To subscribe or unsubscribe or change your settings via the web, visit:
http://olm.blythe-systems.com/mailman/listinfo/nytr

=================================================================
  NY Transfer News Collective   *   A Service of Blythe Systems
           Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us
              339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012
  http://www.blythe.org                  e-mail: nyt@xxxxxxxxxx
=================================================================


________________________________________________________________
Get your name as your email address.
Includes spam protection, 1GB storage, no ads and more
Only $1.99/ month - visit http://www.mysite.com/name today!

_______________________________________________
Marxism mailing list
Marxism@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/marxism