Havana, Oct 21 (Prensa Latina) Cuba is currently promoting the use of zeolite as a multipurpose mineral in agricultural development and also as an exportable item, said the deputy director of the Cuban Geominsal business group, Maria Esperanza Del Pozo.

'This mineral,' the official said in statements to the press, 'is used in the elaboration of Cuban ecological fertilizer agromena thanks to its nutrient retention properties, in water purification plants, in the production of pork and beef and in the manufacture industry.'

Cuba currently has three production plants located in the provinces of Villa Clara, Camaguey and Holguin.

'The plant in Holguin exports 2,500 tons of ore per year to mainly European and Latin American customers,' said the Cuban expert.

To study other uses of zeolite, an international workshop will be held in the town of San Andres, eastern Holguin, where national entities producing and employing the mineral will participate as well as foreign companies interested in expanding their purchase levels, Del Pozo stated.

The event will take place from November 4 to 7 to promote exchanges between producers, marketeers and Cuban and foreign researchers promoting the diversification of the use of that mineral, according to the organizing committee.

Even though Cuba only produces 50,000 tons of zeolite per year, authorities of the sector have revealed that there are potentialities to multiply this figure.