(Trinidad Guardian) MP for Pointe-A-Pierre David Lee has called the recent shutdown of four Point Lisas plants a regional embarrassment.
Lee, the United National Congress’ shadow energy minister, said the Government has failed in gas production for years when T&T should be the energy leader in the Caribbean.
“What has occurred at Point Lisas in the past days is a regional embarrassment because it shows all our investors, it shows our global partners and our regional neighbours that Trinidad and Tobago can no longer be relied on for an attractive and productive energy sector.
“Today we have been placed not only in this embarrassing position but in a position which is detrimental to our economy because of this Government’s persistent failure in the energy sector,” Lee said at the United National Congress (UNC) press conference yesterday.
Lee said that the embarrassment was also reflected on the global stage.
“Last year, Minister (Stuart) Young (Energy Minister) delusionally told CNN that this country had gas and we would be ramping up production to help Europe. Today, Minister Young doesn’t even have gas for Point Lisas. Two months ago, Minister Young told BBC question time and the world ‘Thank God we have an oil and gas economy’, yet Minister Young has no gas for Point Lisas.
“Imagine, the Prime Minister went to Doha last year to speak on our gas production and today we have no gas for Point Lisas. Even worse, the Prime Minister has been appointed as the Chair of the US CARICOM Energy security committee, yet his own energy sector is in shambles,” Lee said.
Lee said that gas production has been the lowest in 20 years, and added that if this continues, T&T will be in an economic crisis, as there will be millions of losses in revenue.
“In the last few days, the shutdown of these plants means that this country has lost millions in Forex. In the last few days, the shutdown of these plants means that taxpayers have lost out millions in revenue,” he said.
He also accused the Government and Energy Minister Stuart Young of not being transparent enough, as the press release from the Ministry on the plant shutdown was only sent out after Lee’s release highlighting the issue.
Is NiQuan safe to operate?
Lee also called for the Government to provide more information on NiQuan, saying that the citizens of T&T have been paying taxes to keep the (company functioning), yet there have been no benefits.
“Today after they have given a fixed gas supply to NiQuan, and today after they have agreed to buy or pay for all NiQuan’s products with your tax dollars, the people of this nation are yet to see the benefits of NiQuan. How much taxes has NiQuan paid? How many jobs has NiQaun created? How much forex has NiQuan generated? Besides not seeing the benefits of NiQuan the people of the fence line communities of Marabella and Batto Avenue are yet to receive any confirmation from those in authority that NiQuan is safe to operate. We continue to ask, where is the report on the NiQuan explosion? Where are the findings of the investigation into the death of Massy worker Allanlane Ramkisson?” he said.
The Sunday Guardian exclusively reported that NiQuan Energy is having a cash crunch challenge and has more than US$250 million (TT$1.7 billion) in debt. NiQuan was set to refinance its bonds to the tune of US$300 million ($2 billion TT) by today but the accident at its plant on June 15, which led to the death of Ramkissoon, set it back.
In addition, Lee made another call for the Prime Minister to bring down the cost of gas.
Young responds
Young last night issued a statement saying that UNC displayed a complete lack of understanding and appreciation of the energy sector and that the Opposition has come out celebrating an unfortunate and untimely safety incident with one of the multinational oil and gas companies operating in T&T.
The Energy Minister said he condemned and rejected this type of behaviour.
Young said, “One of the major oil and gas upstream suppliers operating in Trinidad and Tobago had an issue at its operations which led to it shutting in its production and operations in accordance with normal, accepted safety processes. When this was done, the company informed the National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago (NGC) and I was also informed by the executive management of the issues.
“These types of unplanned safety incidents require proper diagnosis and assessment by the operator and that process is currently underway.”
He said that at the earliest possible time, both the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries and NGC informed the public