ALNG Train Four — ‘Full steam ahead’

Speaking at a function to commemorate the completion of Train Four at the Hilton Trinidad last week, the Prime Minister observed that the completion of Train Four and its commencement of commercial production in December 2005 has had a domino effect of stimulating activity in other areas of the energy sector such as the construction of a cross island gas pipeline by the National Gas Company and an increasing emphasis on deeper horizon acreages to explore for untapped reserves of oil and natural gas.

Noting that arguments about whether TT has sufficient oil and gas reserves to fuel the developmental initiatives of the Government since commercial oil activities started in this country in 1866, Manning said information available to the Government shows that the onshore and offshore acreage which is currently under exploration is "virtually miniscule to the amount of acreage available for exploration in the future."

The Prime Minister said it was against this background that Government was eagerly anticipating a well which Exxon will spud in the Southwest Soldado marine field and exploration activities that will be undertaken in 315,000 acres of land which have been repossessed from State oil company Petrotrin. Manning said six energy sector projects will engage the Government’s attention over the next two years, representing a total investment of US$7.3 billion and there is sufficient gas to fuel all of them. Among these projects are the proposed aluminium complex at Union Industrial Estate in La Brea and the Essar iron and steel complex that will be constructed at the Point Lisas Industrial Estate.

The Prime Minister indicated that these six projects will create over 19,000 construction jobs and over 3,000 permanent jobs upon completion. He also said the proposed US$650 million upgrade of Petrotrin’s Pointe-a-Pierre refinery will create an additional 2,000 construction jobs. Predicting that full employment could be achieved in TT this year, Manning disclosed that Science, Technology and Tertiary Education Minister Mustapha Abdul Hamid is currently examining ways to ensure that training is made available to all citizens who do not currently have access to the domestic market.

British Gas president Craig McKenzie agreed with the Prime Minister about ALNG Train Four and ALNG as a whole providing a platform to ensure sustainable development in TT. He described ALNG and ALNG Train Four as "an excellent business decision" by all parties involved. McKenzie said Train Four has solidified TT as the leading producer of LNG in the Atlantic Basin and the top importer of LNG to the United States. "The presence of TT goes beyond its geographic borders," he stated. McKenzie added that British Gas, BP and Repsol YPF (ALNG’s main shareholders) have all shipped LNG cargoes to the respective markets they serve since Train Four started production in December 2005.

Chairman and CEO of Bechtel International (ALNG’s prime contractor) Riley Bechtel said his company was pleased to be associated with ALNG. He said the significant feature of Train Four was that it was built completely with local materials and by TT nationals, "keeping millions of dollars in TT." ALNG president Rick Cape said Train Four stood as testimony to "the success of the TT LNG model" and construction workers involved in Train Four received a total of $12 million in performance bonuses upon the project’s completion.

Manning said Government will proceed to build a fifth LNG train but once that train is completed it will "pause and have another look" before proceeding to build any further LNG trains.