FORMER project boosts women’s empowerment in Energy sector

Strengthening the participation of women in the Renewable Energy sector in Cuba is the main goal of the FORMER project, which seeks to make a difference in the Holguín territory.

Result of the collaboration between Cuba and Canada governments for around four years, its implementation is in charge of the Holguín Electricity Company under the sponsor by Global Affairs of Canada and Sherritt International Corporation.

Positioning women in a sector dominated by men is not an easy task; However, FORMER has proposed increasing the social and economic development of women and vulnerable communities through the use of renewable energy.

“Our goal is to collaborate in energy advancement with an inclusive perspective, where women grow personally and professionally, in that branch,” said Luis Esteban Arrieta, project director for the Canadian side.

In times of fuel limitations and accelerated environmental deterioration, offering sustainable energy solutions is a priority on the Island. To achieve this, promoting a change in the energy matrix and raising awareness about its advantages are pressing challenges.

With this purpose, the members of the project arrived at La Melba, a difficult access community located over 40 kilometers from the mining city of Moa, with the aim to achieve energy independence, to guarantee service to the homes of 78 families.

Christian Roberto Calix, specialist in Renewable Energy Sources, explained that work is being done on the rehabilitation of a small hydroelectric plant to achieve a sustainable generation of 150 kilowatts (KW) which, after studies carried out, represents a figure greater than the average consumption of the mountain community.

The project also includes the installation of solar water heaters, which are already in Cuba, in five day- care centers, a maternity home, a nursing home, two polyclinics and two hospitals.

 On the other hand, the installation of photovoltaic systems in isolated houses and farms in the 14 municipalities is planned, with priority in those homes where women are heads of the family.

A fundamental line of work of FORMER is the training of women on the different uses of renewable energy and the maintenance of the systems linked to it, so that once installed, community factors and leaders are able to ensure their correct functioning.

Strengthening the link with new economic actors to promote the use of renewable energy in ventures without losing sight of its main objective, focused on Holguín women and their abilities to be a decisive protagonist in the change of

energy matrix in the province, are also among its projections.