Russian specialists study the reconstruction of the Cienfuegos oil refinerywhich requires an investment of 500 million dollars for its modernization and to be able to move on to a more complex refining process that allows better use of crude oil.
“Now there is talk of a possible reconstruction (of the Cienfuegos refinery, with the participation of Russian specialists), I don’t know in whole or in part, but that issue is also being discussed,” he told the agency. TASS the Russian ambassador in Cuba, Viktor Koronelli.
The consular representative explained that some Russian companies are also supplying equipment for metallurgical works, in addition, supplies of materials for thermal power plants are being made.
The refinery, which is the largest in the country, is owned by the state company CUPET.
It has a refining capacity of 65,000 barrels per day, uses Soviet technology from the 1980s, and needs foreign capital to acquire new equipment and go beyond the simple refining process, with which liquefied gas, diesel, gasoline, and fuel oil are currently obtained. among others.
With a million-dollar investment, they would improve the recovery of residuals from the process and increase efficiency.
The refinery came to a virtual standstill in the 1990s with the disintegration of the Soviet Union and was reopened in December 2007 by former Cuban ruler Raúl Castro and the late Hugo Chávez.
The Cuban government turns increasingly to Russia looking for oil before the escalation of the fuel crisis on the island.
In an escalation of relations between the Havana regime and its Moscow ally, the Russian ambassador also announced that Russian automakers have begun negotiations for the car sales on the island.
AvtoVAZ, the automotive consortium that makes Lada, confirmed that negotiations are ongoing and possible importers are involved, although the agreements have not been endorsed.
