Tarea Vida – Tackling Climate Change
“Tarea Vida” (Project Life) is a Cuban state plan to increase the resilience of vulnerable communities. This plan was adopted by the Cuban government in April 2017 to address climate change in the Cuban national territory through adaptation and mitigation measures.
This plan has been adopted by the Moa Nickel Site and OGP and was monitored throughout 2019. The joint ventures are pursuing various resilience projects, including rehabilitation, renewable energy use, decreasing water consumption, reducing emissions and effluents, and education and environmental awareness. A detailed work plan for 2020 was approved by the Moa Joint Venture Board of Directors and will be implemented throughout the year.
The Moa Nickel Site is focused on four strategic domains: availability and efficient water consumption, reforestation, climate change mitigation and control measures, and improving risk perception and knowledge on climate change. Some of the activities that have taken place at the Moa Nickel Site as part of Tarea Vida include:
- Rehabilitating over 20 hectares of mined areas;
- Maintaining over 450 hectares of previously reforested areas;
- Replacing over 1,200 light bulbs with energy-efficient LED lights and installing six outdoor lamps with photovoltaic cells; and
- Improving air quality in surrounding communities by reducing H2S emissions.
Additionally, the Moa Nickel Site is focusing on training and raising awareness. The internal television system regularly presents information on climate change and on Tarea Vida. As part of the training program, over 160 new hires were trained on the program. Members of the Board of Directors also received training on the program as part of their emergency response plan training. A new training program for plant operators includes content on Tarea Vida.
OGP is also taking action to support Tarea Vida. Some of OGP’s actions include:
- Installing water meters to measure consumption and identify where to focus reduction efforts;
- Implementing a continuous improvement and efficiency plan to improve our process, which involves using gas to generate electricity;
- Reducing emissions by conducting preventive and systematic maintenance; and
- Implementing a training plan on climate change and danger, vulnerability and risk issues and efficiently using waste gas from oil production to generate electricity.