By Raul Estrada Zamora
estrada@enet.cu
Translation: Ernesto Gutierrez Pino

Las Tunas.- The workers of the

Although the weather conditions influenced favorably, the effort of some 190 workers was a decisive factor for these premature results, especially because to produce they firstly had to recover the industrial facilities, razed by the hurricane Ike in September last year.

The serious damages caused by the natural disaster have hindered the production of fine salt for the human consumption, in that plant, which supplies the product to the provinces of Pinar del Rio, Villa Clara, Sancti Spiritus, Holguin and Las Tunas.

Waldo Hodar, director in substitution at the salt company, told Tiempo21 that in front of the current limitations and for not affecting the economy of the country, they increased the production of deodorants, seasoned salt and thick salt in packages for the human consumption.

He also explained that thanks to that measure, the annual plan of mercantile production is fulfilled 90 percent and there are all the conditions to reach more than two millions 500, 000 programmed pesos (national money).

Located in the municipality of Puerto Padre, 110 kilometers to the north of this city and about 800 to the east of Havana, the Salt Company of Las Tunas was, before the passage of the hurricane, the second biggest producer in the country, only overcome by its similar in Guantanamo province.

In spite of the damages caused by the hurricane, the plant of Puerto Padre continues producing salt to feed the livestock in different parts of Cuba and guarantees the work of important industries, such as the Electrochemistry of Sagua la Grande, in Villa Clara province.  Starting from the chloride of sodium, sent by Las Tunas, that industrial complex in Villa Clara produces chlorine and caustic soda to all Cuba.

In September 2008 the hurricane Ike destroyed the facilities of the Salt Company in the northern municipality of Puerto Padre.