Energy talks with Chavez ‘very successful’

In an effort to curb the contraband trade between the two countries, Prime Minister Patrick Manning proposed to Venezuela President Hugo Chavez that a college of the maritime university in Venezuela be established at Cedros in which students of Venezuela and students of Trinidad and Tobago can pursue environmental studies, while learning each other’s language. So stated Manning at a post-Cabinet news conference yesterday at Whitehall. He said this was part of a plan to deal with the regular contraband trade between South Trinidad and Venezuela. He said the other elements of the plan were to make Cedros a full port of entry, and to establish at Cedros a naval base for coast guard boats. Manning also announced that the two countries had signed a letter of intent in which there would be a conversion of the current arrangement whereby Venezuela would supply crude and crude products at concessionary terms and conditions  to Caribbean countries by refining its crude oil in a Trinidad and Tobago refinery at costs, with Trinidad and Tobago distributing these products up the islands. Trinidad and Tobago would get “significant benefit” from this arrangement, Manning stressed.

Manning said that as a result of the signing in Caracas of a letter of intent between the two governments, technical terms would be designated to evaluate the feasibility of the following opportunities:
a) Participation by Trinidad and Tobago state firms in conjunction Petrol de Venezuela in the development of the Platforma Deltana
b) Monetarisation of volumes of natural gas from PD in LNG trains in Trinidad and Tobago.
c) Joint refining and commercialisation of crude oil destined for Caricom member states under a supply, refining and commercialisation agreement between both countries.
d) Joint exploration of new petroleum discoveries in Venezuela.
e) Participation by Venezuela in the development of and supply of gas to the intra-Caribbean natural gas pipeline project.
f) Utilisation of the capacity of the Venezuela steel industry to build a joint venture platform fabrication industry between Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela.
g) Re-activation of the Trinidad and Tobago/Venezuela bilateral oil spill contingency plan.
h) Technical and cultural exchanges using educational institutions in Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago.
i) Consideration of the concept of the creation of Petro-america, an energy company as a mechanism to promote cooperation between state oil and gas companies of Latin America and Trinidad and Tobago.
Manning said he was very pleased that Chavez agreed to accept Trinidad and Tobago’s invitation to visit unofficially.
He said an unofficial visit, such as the one that took place last Friday/Saturday was different. “President Chavez came for dinner and we engaged in discussions on the energy sector and the promotion of energy cooperation between the two countries,” Manning said, adding that the discussions were successful.