PM to open energy conference

AGAINST the background of his recent overseas energy talks and with bright energy prospects for Trinidad and Tobago on the horizon, Prime Minister Patrick Manning will formally open the 2004 Trinidad and Tobago Petroleum Conference at the Hilton Trinidad on February 2. Hosted by the South Trinidad Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the annual two-day conference is regarded as “the premier oil and gas conference in the region, attracting a wide range of participants from the industry, Government and other stakeholders.” During his trips to England and Spain last month, the Prime Minister said he was able to convince British energy companies, British Petroleum and British Gas, and Spanish energy company Repsol YTF to increase their current levels of  involvement in TT’s energy sector. Repsol’s Board of Directors is scheduled to hold its first ever meeting in Port-of-Spain and Manning said the Spanish company has already given its commitment to assist in the development of a training facility at the proposed University of TT.

The Prime Minister was criticised by the Opposition UNC about the alleged circumstances under which he travelled to England and Spain, with Oropouche MP Dr Roodal Moonilal going so far as asking the Integrity Commission to investigate the matter. Manning and Energy Minister Eric Williams have dismissed the UNC’s allegations. During his December travels, the Prime Minister also held discussions on TT’s energy security in Washington DC with US President George W Bush and other top Government officials. TT currently accounts for approximately 68 percent of all LNG imports into the US and is the only nation supplying LNG to all four regasification terminals on the American Eastern Seaboard. Manning also had to give the assurance that TT’s LNG supplies to the US would not be affected by British Gas transferring the assets of El Paso Energy Merchant Company in the Elba Island regasification terminal to its subsidiary British Gas LNG Services.

At a January 2 post-Cabinet news conference at Whitehall, Manning said Government had not taken a decision on that matter and would not be rushed into making any decision that would be detrimental to the national interest. The upcoming conference will bring together the largest number of major Government, financial and energy players over two days. Energy Minister Eric Williams, Junior Finance Minister Christine Sahadeo, Tobago House of Assembly chairman Orville London, Central Bank Governor Ewart Williams, Natural Gas Export Task Force chairman Prof Ken Julien, Bptt president Robert Riley  and Atlantic LNG president Rick Cape are among those who will address the conference.