China delivers two solar panel parks to Cuba

China delivered two solar panel parks to Cuba on Thursday, as part of bilateral cooperation in renewable energies.

In an event held in Yaguaramas town in the central province of Cienfuegos, Chinese Ambassador to Cuba Chen Xi handed the management of the two parks over to the Cuban Ministry of Energy and Mines.

"These two parks have a total capacity of 9 megawatts (MW) and the one in Yaguaramas is the largest in Cuba with 19,440 solar panels installed," Chen said.

After 18 months of construction, the two parks, one in the western province of Pinar del Rio and the other in Yaguaramas, started operations in February.

"This is a sign of friendship and willingness by the Chinese government towards the Cuban people. The confidence, brotherhood and solidarity between our countries grow day by day," Chen said.

Meanwhile, Cuba's Deputy Minister of Energy and Mines Ruben Cid stressed that these facilities are part of a solar panel project financed by the Ministry of Commerce of China with a total capacity of 21 MW.

Cid said China has actively participated in the renewable energy program that seeks to generate 24 percent of electricity in Cuba by 2030.

"To date we have worked intensely with Chinese companies and institutions to carry out two wind farms in the province of Las Tunas, 319 MW in generation through solar panel parks and several bioelectric plants next to sugar refineries," he said.

He added that Cuba plans to build 25 bioelectric plants with a generation capacity of 755 MW as well as 14 wind farms to produce 656 MW by 2030.

Also, the country expects to install a capacity of 700 MW in solar panel parks and build 74 small hydroelectric plants to generate 56 MW.