Maybe They Can Use Cigars as Fuel

Fidel Castro's resignation may boost biofuels in Cuba

Posted at 3:16 PM on 20 Feb 2008

Fidel Castro's step down after 49 years as Cuba's leader may have implications for biofuels in the country. Castro was outspokenly critical of U.S. biofuel policy, and blocked a proposed expansion by ag giant Archer Daniels Midland into Cuba in the 1990s. But Fidel's brother Raul, who will assume leadership of Cuba, is a biofuels supporter. Industry analysts have projected that Cuba has the potential to produce up to 3.2 billion gallons of sugar-cane ethanol per year, and the country recently began overhauling its 17 ethanol refineries. Some see a Brazil -- with less internal demand for biofuels, and thus more export capacity -- in the making.

sources:  Biofuels Digest, The Wall Street Journal
see also, in Grist:  What the West's only communist nation has done right