6 shrimp farms will change diesel for electricity

Ecuadornews:

Improving competitiveness and replacing the use of oil-based fuels with clean energy are the main objectives of the electrification plan for the shrimp sector, promoted by the Ministries of Aquaculture and Fisheries and Electricity and Renewable Energy.

Katuska Drouet, head of the Ministries of Aquaculture and Fisheries, indicated that through the plan the shrimp production levels of participating companies will increase by 30%.

“The electrification will accelerate the process of electric aeration, automatic feeding, efficient pumping, technology for security and automated control of shrimp farms,” said Drouet.

Another benefit will be the reduction of around 2 million tons of CO2 by substituting diesel for electricity. “There will be approximately 2,300 shrimp farms that we are going to electrify,” said the head of the Ministries of Aquaculture and Fisheries, who said  that the state investment for this project, which would culminate in 2021, is approximately $ 199 million. Drouet said that six companies have already signed letters of intent to participate in the initiative.

One of them is Industrial Pesquera Santa Priscila, which will invest $ 30 million in its Taura Fish farm, located in the Pocos Palos sector of Duran (Guayas).

“The investment decision is important, historical, and it has to be done already, especially when the shrimp sector has had seven good years,” said Santiago Salem, the company’s representative.

Minister Drouet added that they will provide support to producers wishing to access a credit from public banks (BanEcuador and Corporación Financiera Nacional) to be part of this plan, which also implies the generation of new jobs.

Based on Executive Decree 232, issued on December 4, the National Government appointed Elsy Parodi Ocaña as the new Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy.

Parodi, from Guayaquil, is the first woman to lead the Ecuadorian electricity sector. The civil servant is an engineer in electricity from the Escuela Politécnica del Litoral (Espol), specializing in Power. In addition, she has a master’s degree in Business Administration. She is the mother of two children.

“My commitment is to work for the development of both the electricity sector and the country,” said Parodi, who was previously a consultant of the National Institute of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

Her knowledge of the electrical sector is wide and the fulfillment of the professional objectives within her career stands out.

In terms of sustainable energy development, its principles are linked to the Government’s goals for the transformation of the country’s energy matrix.

The minister will consolidate the plans to take advantage of renewable sources and energy efficiency, will promote scientific research in energy, in addition to the distribution and rural electrification programs. (I)

Source: http://www.eltelegrafo.com.ec/noticias/economia/1/6-camaroneras-cambiaran-diesel-por-electricidad