(KPL/Prensa Latina) Studies on oil and gas, exploitation of nickel laterites, prospecting of mineral deposits, geological heritage, and geo-informatics in Cuba are among the issues to be addressed at the 11th International Earth Sciences Convention, Geosciences 2025, which starts in this capital on Tuesday.

Enrique Castellanos, director of Geology at the Energy and Mines Ministry (MINEM), told Prensa Latina that the main results of oil and gas research in Cuba, both on land and at sea, and the assessment of the exploitation processes in nickel laterites, being nickel one of the country’s major exportable commodities, are on discussion at the Convention.

Held every two years, the mega-convention, including a group of 10 congresses in unison, features foreign delegates to discuss the potential for using technical minerals in agriculture and other branches of industry in which these compounds can be used.

Castellanos stressed that the event, active until April 11, presents specific issues about geology, mineralogy, geochemistry, petrology, tectonics, prospecting mineral deposits, how to find and assess the ones we have, and geological heritage, aspect in which much progress has been made with the declaration of geosites and geoparks in the country.

Under the theme “Geosciences at the Service of Society and Development,” the academic program includes several excursions to Cuban geological sites, workshops, and symposiums on current topics such as 3D applications, artificial intelligence (AI), critical minerals for energy transition, environmental impacts of mining, among the most significant ones.

Sponsored by the Geological Society of Cuba, Geosciences 2025 takes place at the Conference Center in Havana.

KPL