Nicaragua to Increase Use of Renewable Energy

Nicaragua, Apr 12. – Nicaragua runs five new projects in renewable energy to close 2012 with 40 percent of national electricity generation with its own resources, said on Wednesday the Minister of Energy and Mines, Emilio Rapacciolli.

According to Rapacciolli, investments in the last five years allowed to increase the participation of wind, geothermal and hydropower up to 37 percent in 2011 from external and state financing.

For 2013, they expect to raise the proportion to 50 percent, which will allow reducing fuel oil consumption by 1.7 million barrels per year, said Rapacciolli.

With equipment supplied mainly by Venezuela and Cuban technical support, the country was able to install from 2007 a total of 290 megawatts (MW) in oil consuming units as an alternative to overcome the crisis as soon as possible, he stated.

Once this problem was solved the industry focused on the change of energy mix, which is part of the national human development, he said.(Prensa Latina)