Trinidad & Tobago working to implement new natural gas master plan

Trinidad & Tobago’s Point Fortin LNG terminal. PHOTO/File

The Trinidad & Tobago Energy conference launched in the twin-sland nation’s capital (Port of Spain) on Monday with the Persaud-Bissessar administration indicating that it would roll out a new master plan for the natural gas sector by 2015.

According to Energy Minister Kevin Ramnarine, the administration had already received “expressions of interest” from companies for the new natural gas master plan for the period 2014-24.

“This master plan will compliment the national energy policy a drafty version of which will be put out for public comment shortly. The new national gas master plan will be in our hands before the minister of finance reads the 2015 national budget,” he told the conference that was picketed by members of the powerful Oilfield Workers Trade Union (OWTU).

The union has been calling for the resignations of Ramnarine and the board of directors at the state-owned oil company, PETROTRIN, over the recent oil spill that has severely affected the lives and environment of the southern town of La Brea and surrounding areas.

According to administration officials, US$3.2 million hase been spent so far on cleaning up the spill and environment groups, including Friends and Fishermen of the Sea, have accused the authorities of hiding the true extent of the spill.

Ramnarine told the conference that within the next 2 years, the National Gas Company (NGC) would lose two of its largest supply contracts in British Gas (BG) and BP as well as the exploration of the Train I contract for 2018.

He said discussions on all 3 matters would begin later this year and that local companies in the energy sector must be afforded an opportunity to benefit from the resurgence in activity in the upstream sector. -(CMC)