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Articles / News / Cuba / Cuban Province’s Charcoal Exports Grows Ten-Fold in a Decade
Friday, June 15, 2012
Cuban Province’s Charcoal Exports Grows Ten-Fold in a Decade
 Santa Clara, Cuba, Jun 15.- Exports of charcoal from central Villa Calra province, some 250 kilometers east of Havana, grew ten-fold since 2002, according to an official of the Forestry Enterprise in this territory.
Anastasio Herrera said exports this first half year already passed the 640 ton mark, especially charcoal made out of marabou, and when he started in his current position in 2002, exports were of 60 tons a year.
Currently, this activity is carried out by more than 60 farmers, who have an payment system adjusted to the final results of labor, differentiated food, clothing and proper protection, he said.
Estela Fernandez, Quality Specialist in the company, said that experts are closely monitoring the production, from cutting of the logs to packaging in bags, a process that takes about 20 days.
Every moment has specific technical parameters, which include the size and thickness of the logs, measures that vary depending on the plant that is used and the characteristics of buyers, she said.
The firing process is a crucial time, since a high percentage of quality depends on the fire, its intensity and professionalism of the operator to take out the coals on time and avoid their burning too much.
The loss of any of the qualities required in export contracts, affects the economy and the worker, for that reason the controls and checks are very demanding, she said.
Spain is the largest market for marabou charcoal this province produces.
So far, studies shows customer acceptance, which is manifested in the prevailing high demand, she said.(ACN)
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