Las Tunas, Cuba.- Argelio Luis Corría Pérez, an official of the Provincial Government, told ACN that this year three million units must be done and the objective is to produce one million more by 2020, as the territory has the necessary natural resources to achieve that purpose.

He said that until the end of June, the fulfillment of the foreseen plan progressed to 95 percent, with a slight delay that will not prevent the meeting of the goal of this 2019, period in which local authorities insist on the need to encourage local production of building materials.

Corría Pérez added that Las Tunas operates 16 state brick factories and about 60 are operated by self-employed workers, which support an important amount in the manufacture of clay bricks used to build walls or dome-shape ceilings, a technique in which the province accumulates a lot of experience.

On the benefits of this artisanal tradition, Dilton Burgueño Machado, administrator of the La Teja factory, belonging to the Construction Maintenance Company and old specialist of this matter, highlighted the potential of Las Tunas in obtaining clay for the manufacture of bricks and floor slabs, among other assortments.

He reiterated the benefits of clay, a natural element that does not need other components such as cement, and explained that a good brick only requires 60 or 70 percent clay, according to the degree of plasticity, and 30 percent of sand, plus the proper time in the oven.

Burgueño recognizes the importance of taking the offensive in the production of bricks, but warns that before opening new factories, the necessary conditions must first be created, otherwise it is advisable to exploit all existing production capacities, which are not always well exploited.

In this regard, he quoted the Israel Marrero and Marañón factories, both belonging to the Construction Maintenance Company, whose productions are inferior to their possibilities and could supply the necessary bricks for large urbanizations such as "Voluntad Tunera," in the provincial capital.

On this potter's opinion, the elements to raise the dwellings that the province needs are on the ground, to extract and giving them good profit only depends on the interest, will and shame of the man, capable of transforming clay into a useful element to build the houses.

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