Energy ministry mega booth at TIC

These include the National Energy Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (NEC), the National Gas Company (NGC), National Petroleum Marketing Company (NPMC), State-owned oil company Petrotrin and Lake Asphalt of Trinidad and Tobago (1978) Limited.

In addition to the traditional energy and energy-based investment opportunities, the Energy booth will expose a number of non-traditional investment opportunities. Participants in this year’s business expo will have the chance to learn how to become involved in Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), through retailing of the product; ownership of Conversion Centres and testing of CNG cylinders.

Additionally there are opportunities in inspection of CNG installations, provisions for locations for CNG stations, financing of station equipment and fleets, network and data base management, design/build construction contracts, maintenance of CNG Station equipment and provision of on- site refuelling.

There also will be available new opportunities in Melamine, including development of melamine-based manufacturing industries, including products like Melamine Moulding Compounds; dinnerware; adhesives, coatings, laminates and plasticisers. Melamine-based manufacturing industries can generate substantial opportunities for SMEs and entrepreneurs. Such opportunities are well suited for joint venture arrangements with respect to ownership and financing, as well as for equipment and technology suppliers.

With climate change a major focus of the global village, the Energy Pavilion will also showcase business opportunities in the fields of Renewable Energy and Energy efficiency; related equipment and devices and local energy efficiency programmes, again, all suited for joint venture initiatives particularly in the small and medium business sectors.

In the area of renewable energy there are business opportunities in the supply and manufacture of solar water heating systems (solar water heaters and their components), suppliers of Photo Voltaic (PV) Systems, manufacture and assembly of various renewable energy and energy efficient systems and devices and the sale and distribution of these systems and components, service providers (equipment installation, maintenance and follow up activity) and energy audit equipment suppliers and auditors.

Commenting on the Energy ministry’s involvement in TIC 2011, chairman Anthony Aboud said, “The ministry’s presence is to really profile and disseminate information on the potential for energy business, not oil and gas, but alternative energy, recycling opportunities, downstream and upstream melamine.”

Aboud said Trade and Industry Minister Stephen Cadiz just loves the idea of the Energy Ministry exhibiting in a big way and outlining such business opportunities as may be available for the manufacturing sector in energy products.

The TIC chairman put it this way, the Ministry of Trade and Investment is looking to develop business; the Ministry of Energy and Energy Affairs is looking to develop Trinidad and Tobago’s energy resources.

“There’s a match!”

TIC takes place from June 15 to June 18, and follows the Caribbean Investment Forum two days earlier.