Havana. Sept 30 (AIN) During a third nationally-broadcast radio-television program devoted to present difficulties in the supply of electricity in Cuba, a group of measures adopted by the government to alleviate the situation were announced.

Cuban President Fidel Castro, speaking on Wednesday evening’s broadcast of the Round Table program, announced temporary measures will be taken which demand the cooperation of the people and all government agencies.

The leader commented on some of these, focusing on a daily half-hour reduction in school and work schedules beginning the end of October. These will not affect salaries of the working population however.

He underscored the temporary character of the measures and assured that everything will return to normal as soon as the nation improves its electricity generating capacity.

During the analysis, the leader of the Cuban Revolution stressed that a close monitoring of electricity generating operations was essential. He then added that everything necessary will be done, always with a full explanation provided to the people whose understanding he considered crucial.

Fidel Castro emphasized the need to reduce losses in the transmission and distribution of electricity, as present data show 18.1 percent of the electricity generated is lost - the equivalent of a new sixty megawatt generation unit.

The Cuban president affirmed problems at the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant in Matanzas and breakdowns at other power generating facilities since May 5 demonstrate weakness in the national electrical system. He said that the situation demands searching for alternative solutions in order to create a backup reserve.

Fidel Castro noted that the in-depth analysis of the problems and limitations of the electricity generating industry has been a positive experience.

He also pointed to the need for a well thought out energy investment strategy. Along that line the Cuban President recommended a review of the results of modernization programs implemented at other thermoelectric power plants

on the island, beginning with a look a progress made at the Carlos Manuel de Cespedes plant in the central Cuban province of Cienfuegos.

He reiterated that the solution of present difficulties requires the support of the population and cited statistics that evidence high consumption levels in the residential sector.

In his analysis, Fidel Castro emphasized that a small segment of the population uses as much as 1,000 kilowatts of electricity per month, substantially exceeding the average family consumption of less than one hundred kilowatts.

He then underscored that this electricity is subsidized by the state and that what heavy consumers have to pay is minute compared to what it costs to the nation to generate each kilowatt hour.

During the Round Table broadcast, Council of Minister’s Secretary Carlos Lage Davila explained additional measures to alleviate the nation's electrical problem, among these being the extension of the summer daylight savings time schedule.

Lage also made an appeal to increase the generating capacity of the national electrical system. He made reference to the need to concentrate all production activities away from peak demand hours - extending from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. - although this measure began being implemented sometime ago.

Lage also said that during the month of October, all production-related activities that could be suspended and caught up in future months would mothballed, something that has already been identified as a possibility at 118 state- owned enterprises demanding 150 megawatts from the national electrical system.

Electric irrigation systems will be strictly limited to off- peak hours, although they will not be halted due to their importance for food production.

A whole set of other measures will be implemented, including the start up of twelve sugar mills power plants that have dual bagass and fuel oil fired boilers. These will come on-line and synchronized with the national electrical system during peak demand hours between 7 and 11 p.m.

Non-essential use of air conditioners will be reduced to a minimum and all commercial activities not related to the food sector will be discontinued at 7 p.m.

In order to help cope with the present ebb in generating capacity, a rotating power-cutting program will be announced.

 Fidel Castro Assures National Progress Despite Current Energy Shortage

Havana, Sept 30 (AIN) Cuban President Fidel Castro was optimistic when asserting that Cuba would overcome the island’s current energy shortage as he appealed to the Cuban people to observe new energy-saving measures.

Speaking on the Round Table TV-radio program, the Cuban president said that through the broadcast of a thorough analysis of the country’s electricity system on that same radio-TV program since Monday, the Cuban people have been apprised of the facts behind the energy shortfall.

Providing this information has contributed to clarifying reasons for the problem and obtaining the cooperation of the general public.

Fidel Castro estimated the cost of electric output nationally, pointing out the high level of government subsidies in that sphere.

The president stressed the importance of the Cuban people being aware of the situation and contributing to energy saving in order to reestablish the regular electricity output as soon as possible.

At the moment, we cannot rely on nation’s main Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant until every single screw is checked to prevent a similar situation from happening again, Fidel said.

It was noted that managers at the thermoelectric station failed to asses the extent of damage to the plant’s main rotor. This led to a miss-calculation of dates for the start-up of the plant.

Also on the Round Table was Carlos Lage, Secretary of the Council of Ministers, who announced measures that must be taken to alleviate the current situation.

Among the most important measures Lage pointed to were the carrying out of production and service activities during the non-peak hours.

Meanwhile -- so as to increase the generation capacity -- Daylight Savings Time will be extended until October 2005 and 12 fuel-oil and bagasse generation plants will be put online.

The director of the National Electric Union, Juan Pruna, explained that the causes of the last shutdown of the plant are still being studied in order to make a final diagnosis of the current state of the thermoelectric facility.

Pruna said the completion date for the investigation has not been determined but could take several weeks, even though employees are working tirelessly.

The National Electric Energy System (SEN) is currently meeting 54 percent of the current demand, though the percentage will be reduced to 50 percent with the shutdown of one of the 250 megawatt/hour thermoelectric facilities in the eastern province of Holguin.

Pruna referred to the technological problems in the existing electric transmission network. Currently a modern, more efficient system is being installed.

A program has been outlined to improve the National Electric Energy System which will ultimately benefit 95.5 percent of the population.

Cuban Foreign Minister Criticizes US Blockade of Cuba

Havana, Sept 30 (AIN) The US economic blockade against Cuba will be defeated and the island will one day advance along better paths in the construction of an ever more just society, stated Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque.

In a presentation to national and foreign press on the Cuban report to the UN on the need to eliminate that criminal policy, Perez Roque announced that the issue will be debated for the third time at the UN General Assembly on October 28.

The minister pointed out that the same text was approved in 1992 by only 59 nations while last year it received the approval of 179 countries, showing the increasing support and the ethical stance of those nations in the face of the US government’s hostility against Cuba.

Perez Roque stated that despite the US government having ignored its overwhelming rejection by the international community, its policy will have to change and the US will have to answer for undermining the island-nation for 45 years of economic, commercial and financial harassment.

In his speech he explained that the blockade is a true case of genocide, its goal is to defeat the revolution. The economic damage caused to Cuba exceeds $ 79 billion and 70 percent of Cubans suffer directly from its effects and limitations.

The Cuban minister gave the example of how with the $659 million in economic damage being lost this year alone due to the blockade, more than 100,000 houses could be completely rehabilitated and 2.4 million families provided with gas service.

With that money it would also be possible to give milk to all the nation’s children under 15, double the current chicken ration and install 300 additional megawatts of electrical generation capacity.

Perez Roque was accompanied in his presentation of the report by Abel Prieto, the Cuban Minister for Culture; officials and representatives of various organizations, in addition to artists, athletes and scientists whose entry into the US has been denied under the pretext of them being a threat to the security of the neighboring superpower.