Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and  President Nicolas Maduro  signed  the terms of the development of the cross-border Dragon Gas Field between NGC, PDVSA and Shell in Venezuela in August 2018.

The new fiscal regime would assign a 12.5% royalty on a producer’s gas profits and instead of gross production, improving the proceeds to an operator. Seismic data on the blocks to be offered will be reprocessed by TGS. The data could help convince bidders  untapped fields  remain   on its continental shelf.

Young said the country  is committed to transparent and fair bidding processes and will continue to work with stakeholders to ensure the success of future bid rounds.   Trinidad and Tobago has a natural gas deficit of 25% of its installed processing capacity, with daily output of just under 3 Bcf/d leading to a shortfall in LNG and petrochemical production.

 

Promising bid round alongside change

01.18.2023

The  onshore and nearshore bid round yielded 16 bids, an  unsurprising  result for Minister of Energy Stuart Young,  relieved when tenders were opened at the Ministry, after one consortium  submitted  four bids in a deepwater bid round  a few months ago,

He  cited the influence of  shareholders who expect energy company  executives to avoid exploring new provinces and  the “the way the global energy sector is set up, ” factors now immaterial.  The  result, which relates to onshore blocks  in south Trinidad which are  easier to manage, are  a sign of confidence or, at least, of a perception of  significant potential still to be tapped  by energy companies.

That is notable for a century-old   industry and  is just in time for the TT Energy Conference,  a barometer of industry thinking. The country still has a place within the global petrochemical sector. Six bids opened  presumably related to foreign firms, with no representatives being present for signing.

In recent times, there have been shifts within the energy landscape, or at least attempts to engender a sense of upward momentum and optimism. A new arrangement expected to involve  consolidation of all four trains of Atlantic LNG, is in the works, with Young and the Prime Minister among  officials front and centre at the recent signing of heads of agreement with Shell TT, bpTT and the National Gas Company. At the same time, there is a stated focus on renewables, with   the prospect of large solar facilities.

The Government would like ten per cent of the energy sector to include renewables. While some think that benchmark too low and while there are questions about the commitment of major energy players to net zero, what is clear is the imperative to wean the economy off one basket of commodities. The winds of change are evident but so too is the international recognition of the prospects offered in

Guyana, where the Energy Conference and Expo will follow  one in TT,  featuring major industry players and regional  representatives.  Government anticipates 2023 will be rosier   on the strength of revenue gains  from  the oil and gas sector, which it wishes  to maintain in the medium term as a pragmatic transitionary measure. Some of these gains can be diverted into robust diversification efforts, notwithstanding  results of the recent bid round,

 Oil companies  submitted 16  bids   to explore some of the 11 blocks onshore and nearshore on offer in south Trinidad, when tenders were opened  at the Ministry of Energy.

Eight oil companies submitted 16 bids for eight blocks. Three blocks attracted no interest. Energy Minister Stuart Young welcomed the number of bids  as a show of confidence  in the TT energy landscape.

Companies would soon be allowed to bid for 20 shallow water blocks, in Q1 of 2023, after deep water bid rounds last December. TT  produced three billion barrels of crude oil in its 100-year history , yet  Government still wants to attract more exploration.

Geology of the blocks under bid offered “significant untapped potential.” The ministry had offered companies extensive data regarding the blocks and had promoted the bid round including at international conferences. The Government  updated the  system of tax and royalties. While the onshore and nearshore bid rounds  ran for six months, he promised  notification of  results in three months. Each contract will be awarded for six years in the first instance, with possible renewal for 25 years and then for periods of five years.

Bid rounds would benefit the  country and  future generations and energy administration was more akin to a revolving door. Young thanked oil companies for  having confidence in TT , being a mature province,  with much oil already extracted. Asked about this plethora of onshore/nearshore bids, in contrast to  four bids  on 17 blocks in deep water last June  by a bpTT/Shell consortium,  he replied that this was not surprising as blocks on land were easier to explore than those in deep waters which lack infrastructure for exploration.

Some bidding companies had no representative  to ceremonially sign their bid as witnesses to the proceedings but those bids  remained legally valid. Out of the 16 bids,  representatives were present to sign off on ten bids. For six bids, no representative was present from Eco Oil and Gas Solutions and Hunter Resources Corporation. Firms without a representative present were thought to be foreign-based.
Primera Oil and Gas Ltd submitted the most bids, for five blocks, namely Cipero, Tulsa, Charuma, St Mary’s and Guayaguayare Onshore.

• Eco Oil and Gas Solutions bid for three blocks – Tulsa, Cipero and Guayaguayare Onshore.Hunter Resources Corporation  bid for Buenos Ayres, South West Peninsula Onshore and St Mary’s.
• Decker Petroleum Marketing Company Ltd and AV Oil and Gas Ltd each made one bid,  for St Mary’s.
• NABI Construction bid only for Aripero.
• Challenger Energy Group bid only for Guayaguayare Onshore.
• Trinity Exploration and Production TT Ltd bid for  Buenos Ayres.

No company bid for  Cory D, Cory F and South West Peninsula Offshore blocks.

 

 

 16 bids for 11 blocks

10 January 2023

By Fabio Palmigiani in  Rio de Janeiro

Trinidad & Tobago welcomed 16 offers in its latest competitive bid round featuring 11 onshore and nearshore blocks, as the country remains committed to encouraging exploration for future reserves.

Trinidad offered 10 onshore blocks — Aripero, Buenos Ayres, Charuma, Cipero, Cory D, Cory F, Guayaguayare, South West Peninsula Onshore, St Mary’s and Tulsa — plus the South West Peninsula Offshore nearshore permit.

“The efforts that we are making in the energy sector are for the benefit of Trinidad & Tobago, the citizens  and the sustainability of our energy sector,” Stuart Young, head of the Ministry of Energy stated.

 

BP and Shell discuss bids for deep-water blocks

Consortium submitted offers for blocks in competitive bid round

30 December 2022

 Fabio Palmigiani  in    Rio de Janeiro

The government of Trinidad & Tobago plans to start negotiations with European companies Shell and BP with respect to their joint bids for a quartet of deep-water exploration blocks. The duo last June submitted offers for blocks 23 (b), 25 (a), 25 (b) and 27 during the competitive bid round for offshore acreage. The Ministry of Energy offered 17 blocks off the northern and eastern coasts  in the auction, but the remaining 13 tracts received no proposals.

$800m for Energy Ministry for fuel subsidy

The Standing Finance Committee of the House of Representatives approved a supplementation of $800 million for the Energy Ministry.  Energy Minister Stuart Young said this supplementation was in relation to the fuel subsidy.

“One of the responsibilities is for the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries to manage the fuel subsidy that is being provided for the people of TT for many years, along with consultation with the Ministry of Finance. That is what this whole movement of the $800 million is all about.” 

$800 million supplementation was for National Petroleum Marketing Co Ltd (NP) and Unipet payments towards the fuel subsidy of  $300 million on July 29, 2022 and  $500 million  on December 22, 2022. Finance Minister Colm Imbert told the committee that these payments were taken into account.  when he reported  the 2022/2023 budget surplus of $1.079 billion,  Responding to questions from Pointe-a-Pierre MP David Lee about liquefied petroleum gas (LPG),

Young said, “That $800 million was purely for fuel subsidy. Nothing to do with LPG.”

 Young also corrected Lee on an inaccurate fuel subsidy figure of $1.5 billion that he was referring to. “For the fiscal year 2022, the Government actually provided a subsidy of $1.67 billion, even though we had indicated earlier in the year that we would cap it at $1 billion. It was felt that we would continue to provide that assistance to the population.. which worked out to be $670 million more, not including the substantial subsidy .. paid towards LPG.”

Lee insisted the fuel subsidy figure was $1.5 billion for 2022. “Does that take care of all the fuel subsidies for the year 2022?”

Young was uncertain of what Lee was asking.

“The total subsidy for fuel paid for fiscal 2022 was $1.67 billion, not the $1.5 (billion) he keeps referring to. “ Young did not know where the “$100- almost $200 million disappears on the UNC side.” He reiterated that the $800 million does not include the subsidy on LPG which is approximately over $300 million annually.

 “The ministry has been focused on ensuring that the people of TT, get the best possible returns.. hydrocarbon resources.” The ministry “has been cleaning up what has been left behind since 2015 (under the UNC-led People’s Partnership coalition) and we have met with a great measure of success.” Recent negotiations the ministry was involved in resulted in improved revenues for the people of TT. “We have a number of initiatives in the pipeline, including negotiations that are about to take place with deepwater bid rounds.”

Young was pleased that recent onshore and nearshore bids rounds were successful.

 

Hydrogen

23 jan

Energy Minister Stuart Young told a panel discussion at the Energy Chamber Conference the government is  “making good strides on the hydrogen side.” He was joined by Juan Vasquez, country manager of Woodside Energy, David Campbell, regional president of bpTT, Mark Loquan, president of the National Gas Company of TT Ltd (NGC), Aleeya Ali, Proman’s managing director of operations, Marc Jardine, vice president of business banking at RBC Royal Bank, with Dr Thackwray Driver, president and CEO of the Energy Chamber as the facilitator.

“We have a government that is very proactive and we are ahead of the game in renewables. As you would have seen towards the end of last year, we have signed the largest solar project in the whole English-speaking Caricom and that is no small task.”

He said up- and down-stream stakeholders have been engaged  to ensure that this happens and continue to do so. “That reasoning is to make sure that with every single project, we can get every molecule of oil and gas from the ground as quickly as possible by working with our stakeholders.”  

TT has the infrastructure and  he described the Point Lisas industrial estate as an example, one-of-a-kind facility that does not exist anywhere else in the western hemisphere.  LNG, ammonia and methanol are the products that come from the energy transition. Works on  carbon capture sequestration and utilisation (CCSU) process are  moving slowly. CCSU is a process in which carbon dioxide  from  power plants are either reused or stored, so that emissions do not enter the atmosphere. NGC and Heritage Petroleum Ltd are already working on the removal of methane gas and the focus is now  on deepwater exploration and drilling.

Young said, “To those naysayers out there who don’t want to believe that the deepwater is happening, it is happening. We are in active conversations and negotiations right now with Woodside to bring Calypso to market. We have entered negotiations with bpTT and Shell on the deepwater, so the government is very active. Let us use our infrastructure here, we have an advantage over many countries in the world who are hydro-carbon based, we have our mature infrastructure based on methanol, ammonia, urea and LNG. Let us utilise it, clean it up, let us get the CCSU done and let’s make sure that we continue to have the energy sector available for many decades, that we see many projects come on stream for the future of gas. The government is proactive, we are listening and we’re ready to work with you with one man mate. The government is going to get the best deal and the best returns for the people of TT, so when you’re coming to the table to talk to us just bear that one thing in mind, that is the one non-negotiable. Everything else is negotiable.”

 

 

Solar, Wind  best   for    Renewables

 Jan 24 2023

 Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley told  the Energy Conference    that   while Trinidad and Tobago’s immediate future remains with the hydrocarbon market,  both solar and wind energy programmes were in the works, with wind recommended as the better option .  The Roadmap for a Green Economy in T&T determined that offshore wind was our best bet and an assessment will be undertaken to determine the best locations for wind farms.

“On November 29, 2022, the Government launched the Roadmap for a Green Economy in Trinidad and Tobago. The Roadmap was developed by the IDB in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries and National Energy. The study determined that of all the potential renewable energy sources in Trinidad and Tobago, offshore wind offers the largest potential for the country with a projected output of approximately 25 gigawatts of levelised energy. The initial goal of the roadmap is the establishment of a wind pilot project, demonstrating visible end-use applications of green hydrogen in Trinidad and Tobago. Towards this end, the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries, in collaboration with National Energy and the European Union, will be conducting a National Wind Resource Assessment to identify potential sites for wind farm development in Trinidad and Tobago. Construction of the solar parks is scheduled to commence in the first quarter 2023, with full operationalisation of the project by fourth quarter 2024. The Solar Utility Project will, on completion, meet 8% of the country’s power generation requirements. It is the Government’s stated objective to increase power from renewables to meet 30% of the country’s requirements.”

This project had been challenged by supply chain issues which increased costs for the planned construction. Despite this move towards renewable energy,  the country will continue to ride the positive momentum the energy sector is enjoying with the success of the recently completed onshore and nearshore bid round an encouraging sign.

“The 2022 Onshore and Nearshore Competitive Bid Round, which opened on July 8th, 2022 and closed on January 9th, 2023, we received sixteen bids for eight of the eleven blocks that were offered. It is the most successful Onshore/Nearshore Bid-Round to date, surpassing the Onshore/Nearshore Element of the 2005/2006 Bid Round in which eight bids were submitted for six of the eight blocks offered.”

This bid round will be followed by a shallow-water bid-round scheduled to be opened at the end of the first quarter 2023.  It was important to consolidate our energy gains.

“The outlook in the near term is positive given the aggressive drilling programme of Heritage, the country’s largest oil producer, new production by EOG and Trinity, recent discoveries by Touchstone and the generous fiscal incentives made available to onshore producers and shallow water marine areas in recent times. We have been working tirelessly to encourage further increased onshore oil production and I hope to see success in this area as time progresses.”

It was crucial to capitalise on this progress amid negative projections from international bodies.

 “A key concern raised by the World Bank is the possibility of high global inflation accompanied by slow growth, reminiscent of the stagflation of the 1970s. This, according to the World Bank, could result in a sharp tightening of monetary policy in advanced economies, which could have potentially harmful consequences on highly indebted developing and emerging markets. Therefore, Government and business must work together to develop strategies to ensure that the pursuit of critical energy goals remains on track. This is even more important to energy-driven countries such as ours.”

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Touchstone

Touchstone CEO: We may lose money with higher oil prices

 Touchstone Exploration president/CEO,  Paul Baay, told  the 2023 Energy Chamber  Conference  sometimes a rise in the world oil price may cause his company to actually  lose money rather than make more, as  new taxes apply when the price reaches a certain threshold. The  panel discussed  improving the investment climate, while the conference theme was navigating a complex energy future

When the world oil price is low, oil producers pay a petroleum profits tax (PPT), but pay  an additional  supplemental petroleum tax (SPT.)   on prices  rising to a certain level.

Previously the SPT applied  at US$50, until this threshold was raised to US$75.   Last December’s Finance (Number 2) Bill 2022 proposed five bands of SPT: zero tax for under US$50, 15 per cent for US$50-70, 20 per cent for US$70-90,  20 per cent plus for US$90-$200 and 42 per cent for over US$200.

The  bill received assent on December 20, 2022 to come into force on January 1, 2023.

Baay said his company makes more money when oil is at US$74.99 than when it rises to US$95. Presumably blaming this on the traditional SPT model, he said the price has to climb to US$100 in order to benefit the company. “It means we have less money to put back in the ground to drill more wells.”

He asked why companies get better tax treatment for trying to exploit mature fields than new fields. In mature fields oil had been proven to exist but since might have been worked out, while in new fields no oil has been proven to exist. Last quarter Touchstone had paid SPT worth a sum equivalent to the cost of drilling one new well. The  TT tax regime needed to be as attractive to investors as were TT geological formations. One can say “those rocks are great” until the firm brings in its chief financial officer. Baay advised a bunch of little things  can be changed. It will make a big difference.

He said the recent conclusion of a near-shore bid round showed very few international firms had been attracted to TT, although he  did not mind this lack of competition. “TT’s fiscal regime needs to be revisited to encourage investment and the developing of the sector here.”

 Dominic Rampersad, president of Phoenix Park Gas Processors Ltd, urged a balance between government incentives to companies and what the market can tolerate, so as to bring a fair return to both the investor company and the people of TT.

Schreiner Parker, Rystad Energy senior vice president, said companies typically seek returns of 17-20 per cent to justify their investment.

“Even if the rocks are great, it must have a good fiscal regime.”  Norway had once changed its fiscal regime and then seen investment dollars start to flow in. Parker also said a very long lead time to complete the extraction process  put a lot of pressure on countries and resulted in unexploited oil which meant “a lot of money left in the ground.”

He  advised gas producers like TT that the world was now awash with liquefaction projects including one in Mexico which imports gas from the Permian Basin in the US to liquefy  and export it to Asia. Producers must be swift and agile or risk missing the boat. “Keep your eyes up and continue to be open to change.”

On  decarbonisation, Rampersad said some export markets only admit product – such as urea, methanol or ammonia – of a certain specification, and this fact could incentivise decarbonisation in TT.  “Trading in carbon credits is an emerging opportunity. It is developing into a multi billion dollar opportunity. This is the most exciting time. The industry is demanding we reinvent ourselves.”

 

 

TOUCHSTONE ANNOUNCES RELEASE OF 2021 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT

CALGARY, ALBERTA (December 28, 2022) – Touchstone Exploration Inc. (“Touchstone”, “we”, “our”, “us” or the “Company”) (TSX, LSE: TXP) is pleased to release our 2021 Sustainability Report (the “Report”), outlining our progress and initiatives on health, safety, social, environmental and governance practices. The Report can be found on our website at www.touchstoneexploration.com.

Touchstone Exploration Inc.

Touchstone Exploration Inc. is a Calgary, Alberta based company engaged in the business of acquiring interests in petroleum and natural gas rights and the exploration, development, production and sale of petroleum and natural gas. Touchstone is currently active in onshore properties located in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. The Company’s common shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange and the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange under the symbol “TXP”.

For further information , see our website at www.touchstoneexploration.com or contact: Mr. Paul Baay, President and Chief Executive Officer   Mr. Scott Budau, Chief Financial Officer Mr. James Shipka, Chief Operating Officer Telephone: 403.750.4487.

 

 

 

Noble wrestles with damaged jack-up  and secures new contracts

24 January 2023

By Russell Searancke in Oslo

Drilling giant expects lower quarterly earnings due to jack-up incident.

Global offshore drilling giant Noble expects to take a hit to its fourth-quarter earnings primarily as a result of mechanical issues on the jack-up drilling rig Noble Regina Allen, which is awaiting repairs at a port in Trinidad. The rig was operating off the east coast of Trinidad in mid December when it developed a serious structural issue while preparing to be moved. The structural integrity of one of its legs was compromised, so all crew were evacuated from the jack-up after confirming the rig’s watertight integrity.

 

New approach  to cut  power  costs

13 jan

The Regulated Industries Commission (RIC) urged State Enterprise TTEC to reduce its costs by $2.2 billion.

Advising TTEC officials to return to their spreadsheets, the RIC sent a welcome signal that it would not  solve  balance sheet imbalance by throwing more public funds at the problem. A rate rise is inevitable but the rate increases proposed by the RIC are surprising, provoking comment by the Opposition and OWTU.

Price rises range between 15 per cent and 64 per cent, but do not follow  electricity use in a linear way. Homes  consuming 400 kilowatt hours (KWh) on the bi-monthly billing cycle will  pay the lowest increase in the suggested regime. Households using 500 KWh and 1,500 KWh will pay the next lowest rise at 19 per cent.   Proposed pricing rises to 31 per cent for users drawing 2,500 KWh and 64 per cent for consumers of 7,000 KWh.

The sharp increases demand some explanation of how they were formulated and how targeted households will support such hikes. The RIC  prepared  models for households and the regulatory agency must share  findings with the public. As a monopoly provider, TTEC must operate more transparently and collaboratively in its customer-facing operations.

In July 2020, Anand  Supermarket filed a notice of application in the San Fernando High Court protesting a million-dollar fee demanded by TTEC in 2012 to supply electricity to  premises at Siparia Erin Road in Penal. The action claimed that TTEC invoked its Capital Contribution Policy to meet expenses incurred by infrastructure to supply electricity to the location.

Benefiting from the new infrastructure,  other customers  query how TTEC balances the cost of delivering electricity in remote areas and how that expense is shared when development is stimulated after electricity becomes available. That need not be the case going forward. TTEC is proceeding with plans to supplement its supply with a solar farm venture to wean itself off expensive natural gas.

TT must embrace the energy generation revolution and the RIC should push TTEC to partner with the energy-consuming public in energy generation through widespread installation of solar panels. Encouraging customer energy consumption also holds the potential to create an infrastructure that can feed supply from home and business installations back to the national grid.

That kind of forward-looking strategy would position TTEC as a distributor with suppliers numbering in the hundreds, offering more elasticity in generation than relying on a handful of high-energy providers. The RIC must pursue its intended role as a regulator of successful utilities, not burdens on the Treasury.

 

 

 

Heritage

Jan 13 2023

Heritage Petroleum Co Ltd described its 2022 performance as “strong” as  executives met  the Ministry of Energy. 

In 2022, the company embarked upon an aggressive drilling and workover programme, with ten wells drilled on land and one offshore, while operating 22 rigs.  The  company said that, through its methods, it demonstrated a consistent delivery in revenue generation.

Heritage will continue to expand in 2023, with a focus on enhancing the quality of life in fenceline communities. The focus continues to be on drilling another ten wells on land and five wells in the Soldado field offshore.

This is in addition to Enhanced Oil Recovery and integrity projects that are currently underway. Heritage will continue to support its fenceline communities through a host of social sustainability programmes that are designed to empower the society, through the provision of scholarships, IT training and agricultural entrepreneurship programmes.

Minister of Energy Stuart Young reminded the company of the vital role it played in generating revenue and  of the need to continue producing as efficiently and safely as possible to get the best possible returns from  energy reserves while trying to maintain sustainability. He  advised  the company  to seek opportunities to grow.

 Heritage launched Here We Grow, Heritage Outreach to Maximise Environmental Excellence (HOMEE), and Heritage Information Technology Training (HITT) at the Palo Seco Government Primary School.  Three social sustainability programmes    will  make its contribution towards  food security, addressing climate change and community development.

La Brea MP Stephen Mc Clashie said the launch was a positive step for the company as it sought to establish itself in the community and acknowledged his constituency had benefited from support from oil companies such as Trintopec and Trintoc.

“I expect to see a lot of activity, particularly around the farm initiative and training of those 50 people in the first cohort. The HITT programme, which is the IT training programme is also going be quite instrumental. I think in combination the two programmes really will enhance the lives of the people of the community and I really thank Heritage for taking that initiative and bringing these programmes.”

Arlene Chow, CEO of Heritage,  said the company could not ignore its own social responsibility, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The HOMEE programme was particularly important given the international concerns about climate change as well as  government commitment to reduce carbon emissions.

“The impact of environmental degradation and climate change is even more severe. In small island developing states like ours, we are seeing record rainfall and flooding .. that occurred.. in November. .. It’s a stark reminder of the evidence of climate change and especially its impact on small islands like us. “.. look at California.., .. flooding  in the most expensive areas… none of us are immune to this. These recent events really give us the impetus and other countries  towards greater diversification, innovation, and sustainable development,” said Chow, who added that the Here We Grow programme could be crucial to efforts to improve food security. The programme will see Heritage provide seedlings as it encourages participants to create their own gardens. “..it struck me that when you said eat what you grow,  people don’t do that. Because growing up in a country, that’s what you do. ..Here we Grow  promoted that again, those things that you used to do, you eat what you grew.”

Corporate communications manager Arlene Gorin-George said this generation has a critical responsibility to take care of our environment so that it can be handed over to future generations and Heritage was doing its part.

“We are resolute at Heritage to work and partner with you to make the changes that are required in order to ensure that we have a better, a brighter and more sustainable future for all of us.”

 

Economic crisis

 Mayaro MP Ruston Paray,  predicting the worst cost of living crisis in TT, said real and substantive changes are needed  to prevent an even more catastrophic year in 2023.  He fears a repeat of the 1980s, when the  people  fled to other countries, seeking refugee status as the economy was sagging.

Paray told the UNC  media conference the proposed imposition of the most severe electricity rate increase ever could spell further disaster.  At no time in the history of the region has there been a hike in electricity rates of up to 65 per cent for residential customers and 128 per cent for commercial and industrial users. He foresees this causing many small and medium sized businesses, “turning off their lights.” Contrary to government’s belief that this increase would create more revenue, Paray said the reality is hundreds of thousands of people will not be able to see their way if this is implemented.

“With the Government’s continued failure to outline a clear plan to deal with inflation as well as with the erosion of independent voices at the Central Bank, our nation is now facing the real and frightening prospect of the worst cost of living crisis in our history.”

Along with proposed electricity hikes are pending increases in rates and tariffs for the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA), imposition of property tax which Paray said will further hurt businesses, home-owners and renters, plus the possibility of the fuel subsidy being completely removed.

At the best of times such harsh increases would have adverse effects on the cost of doing business and consumers’ purchasing power and cause more domestic suffering but these are not the best of times.

“These rate increases are being imposed while TT is undergoing its worst economic and social crisis since the mid-1980s.”

He drew a parallel between now and that period when unemployment and poverty were at record levels, public officers were denied pay increases, and nuisance taxes were imposed on virtually everything that moved.

With the mismanagement of the economy by a PNM Government after the energy boom of the mid-1970s, Paray said, “sadly I fear history is about to repeat itself. Today, the economic disaster is equally grave and the reason is similar – gross mishandling of the economy by the PNM regime.”

MP Anita Haynes  addressed issues relating to the education sector and Senator Wade Mark  delved into the unsuitability of Christine Kangaloo as the pick for the presidency.

 

 

 

EOG  joins UNEP’s Oil and Gas Methane Partnership 2.0

05 Jan 2023

EOG Resources (EOG)  joined the Oil and Gas Methane Partnership 2.0 (OGMP 2.0), UNEP’s flagship oil and gas reporting and mitigation program. OGMP 2.0 is the most comprehensive, measurement-based, reporting framework for the oil and gas industry designed to improve the accuracy and transparency of methane emissions reporting.

‘The OGMP 2.0 framework aligns with EOG’s commitment to continuous improvement by leveraging data to help improve our operations and emissions performance,’ said President and COO, Lloyd W. ‘Billy’ Helms, Jr. ‘After the tremendous progress we have made reducing our methane emissions percentage by 85% since 2017, we continue to pilot recent advancements to methane detection technology that show promise to further improve our methane management efforts. We are excited to join OGMP 2.0 to demonstrate our support for accurate and transparent data collection and reporting and encourage industry-wide innovation and progress to reduce methane emissions.’

In 2021, EOG piloted iSenseSM, a proprietary continuous methane monitoring solution which uses methane sensing technology to continuously monitor facilities and provide real-time alerts to a central control room. The pilot confirmed that iSense is the most effective solution for the company to detect and accelerate leak repairs while also being scalable and economic. EOG is prioritizing deployment to areas of highest production and potential impact. Initial installations are focused in the Delaware Basin and EOG will continue to rollout iSense in other operating areas this year.

‘We are delighted that EOG Resources is joining OGMP 2.0,’ said Giulia Ferrini, OGMP 2.0 Project Manager, UNEP. ‘Oil and gas companies must be part of the methane solution if we are to keep global warming to 1.5°C.’

Source: EOG Resources

 

 

 

Piarco Solar Park for  power generation

Jan 04 2023

Workers are preparing the site for the Piarco Solar Farm which will consist of ground-mounted solar panels installed over an area of 1.54 hectares with an annual generation capacity of 1,443,830 kilowatt-hours.

The Solar Park Project has broken ground at  Piarco International Airport.  Minister of Planning and Development Pennelope Beckles said  a significant amount of work is underway regarding design approvals, procurement and construction works for the project.

Piarco Solar Park is a collaboration between the Government, the European Union’s Global Climate Change Alliance Plus (GCCA+) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

In November 2022, all  prerequisite activities were 100 per cent complete. Procurement works were 48 per cent complete and construction work 30 per cent complete.

“The installation of this commercial-scale solar farm at the Piarco International Airport, represents action that T&T is undertaking, assisted by our international partners, to meet our climate change commitments under the Paris Agreement. These commitments are aimed at achieving our Nationally Determined Contribution, as part of the global effort to constrain global temperatures to survivable levels and to target the sectors responsible for our highest emissions, the power generation, transportation and industrial sectors.

This initiative is a turning point in the power generation sector and in the national climate change agenda.

“The existential threat posed by climate change requires action by every country, and the international climate policy framework has responded through legal instruments requiring and guiding actions to be undertaken. As part of implementing the 2011 National Climate Change Policy, the ‘Strategy for Reduction of Carbon Emissions (CRS-Carbon Reduction Strategy)’ was developed and adopted in 2015, establishing a mitigation action plan targeting the country’s three main emitting sectors; electrical power generation, industry, and transport, over the period 2013 – 2040.

This was the policy basis for Trinidad and Tobago’s Nationally Determined Contribution or NDC, and represents our commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as required under the Paris Agreement. In addition, this project demonstrates the Government’s commitment to the national development strategy, Vision 2030 through the attainment of SDG 13: Climate Action.”

The Global Climate Change Alliance Plus (GCCA+) is a flagship initiative of the European Union, geared towards helping the world’s most vulnerable countries to address the issue of climate change.

T&T, through the Ministry of Planning and Development, was able to partner with the Delegation of the European Union, to ensure that this country was able to design projects allowing access to the GCCA+ programme contributing to the achievement of our NDC.

The solar farm, which is managed by the Airports Authority, will consist of ground-mounted solar panels installed over an area of 1.54 hectares with an annual generation capacity of 1,443,830 kilowatt-hours (kWh), which represents 7.1 per cent of the total amount of electricity consumed at the Piarco International Airport.

This project could potentially reduce annual emissions of carbon dioxide by 1,010 metric tonnes, and contribute to an overall reduction in Trinidad and Tobago’s carbon footprint. Beckles  is hopeful that this solar farm at the Piarco International Airport serves as an inspiration to the wider public and private sectors on the potential of Solar and Renewable Energy, “as we do our part for a better planet for all of us.”

 

NP   accreditation for determination of viscosity

Dec 30 2022

National Petroleum Marketing Company Limited (NP)  announced that its laboratory has achieved the international standard for testing and calibration laboratories, ISO/IEC 17025:2017. This accreditation, which was granted by the Trinidad and Tobago Laboratory Accreditation Service, recognises the competence of NP’s laboratory to provide technically valid viscosity test results.

“This achievement is of strategic importance for NP as it enhances the public’s confidence in the company’s test results and improves its ability to compete globally and regionally, access new markets, and pursue additional contract blends. The ISO/IEC 17025:2017 certification demonstrates that NP’s Laboratory has a well-structured quality management system in place to minimise risks and promote quality,” NP stated.

NP said as a leading provider of world-class blends of lubricants, including engine oils, gear oils, industrial oils, and transmission fluids, the accurate determination of viscosity is essential to the specifications and final use of its products. The laboratory is equipped with temperature-controlled baths, viscometers, calibrated stopwatches, thermometers, certified reference material, and suction devices to determine the viscosity of transparent liquids at 40˚C and 100˚C in accordance with ASTM D445-21e2.

“The accreditation process was led by the Trinidad and Tobago Laboratory Accreditation Service (TTLABS) and was supported by NP’s general manager, Core Business Support, Kevin Motilal, manager, Lubricants, Valene Robertson, laboratory superintendent, Peter Ransome, QMS officer, Afton Collymore, and a consultant, Lori Ann Keane. Funding for the accreditation was provided through the Public Sector Investment Programme – Accreditation Programme for Public Laboratories, and executed by the Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards.

NP  is committed to maintaining this international standard and upholding the quality management system for its products.

 

 

 

Ramps Logistics

Ramps Logistics chief executive officer Shaun Rampersad is excited about the Energy Conference 2023 on  January 23-25, Hyatt Regency, Port of Spain, a tremendous networking opportunity that results in broadening connections and expanding each participant’s business.

“The conference is a huge part of being successful in building relationships, getting to know people, understanding who are the major players in the industry and I feel like that the TT Energy Conference does that very well. I think that the energy conference gives a chance for service companies to hear directly from the operators. They come to to the conference, they tell us about their plans for next year, where they plan to invest and we get an idea as to where the industry is heading. One of the things that every single service company will be paying attention to at the conference is what is the capital spend of each of the major operators, so we know where to focus our business as well.”

Rampersad said the conference will also give the service companies insight as to what the next few years may look like within the industry.

Ramps Logistics as a service company offers its clients the resources needed to carry out their functions undisturbed.   Ramps Logistics first started as a customer brokerage business and has grown over the last few years to become an integrated logistics company for oil and gas freight services, shore base management, material management business and provisional personnel logistics – getting visas or work permits for the workers. The company is responsible for providing the necessary resources to its clients for smooth operations.

Ramps Logistics will be an exhibitor   at this year’s conference and  it’s important for the company since last year, it focused on building new digital systems to ensure the company and its customers were able to operate virtually without hiccups.

“It gives us a chance to display back to our customers over three days on the progress we made as an organisation, what digital systems we built out and to really show people how the company has progressed and it gives us a chance to try and convince participants of the conference that we can add value to their business.”

Rampersad said this conference would be the company’s second physical one post-pandemic restrictions and he expects to see a full conference since there will be around 700 participants.

“I really hope that the conference is a shot of energy especially for the smaller service companies.. who really felt the brunt of the pandemic. Those are the ones that had to send people home and really restructured their business. It’s been really challenging for service companies, so I really hope that this conference is an opportunity for the entire service sector to shine and for us to get some real encouragement and good news from the upstream operators, the government and the Ministry of Energy.”

Once companies utilise the conference they will be able to get people to reinvest so that they can build their companies stronger to expand the energy sector.

Ramps Logistics has been around since 1985 and is continuing to grow especially within the international market. The company got a local content certificate last November for its Guyana-based subsidiary after initial refusal by local authorities. The company in particular is looking at TT since he sees many opportunities rising within the next few years. He mentioned the Loran-Manatee Drilling Programme stemming from Shell which he described as the “biggest gas drilling programme in the history of TT.”

The Loran-Manatee is a natural gas field discovered in 1983  on the continental shelf of the Atlantic Ocean. Production began in 2013 and drillers encountered natural gas and condensates. An agreement   resulted in Venezuela acquiring 73.75 per cent of the joint field while TT got the remaining 26.25 per cent.

TT’s initial plan was to develop the gas field with Venezuela, but in 2020, the Prime Minister announced that TT would develop it independently citing US sanctions against Venezuelan companies.

Rampersad said with great emphasis, “I don’t believe that our best days are behind us, I believe that our best days are ahead of us.”

He was referring to his experiences with people believing that the oil and gas sector in particular is stagnant within the energy industry.

“We see the new developments in Venezuela with Chevron and the fact the US government has removed some sanctions that allows Chevron to export oil from Venezuela. We hope that our government, the government of Venezuela and the government of the US can come to an agreement that will allow Venezuelan gas to come to TT for processing, so that gas could then go to places that really need it.”

Rampersad hopes that issues like these can be discussed and come to fruition with the help to the conference. With green energy on the rise,  a lot of the skills needed to process hydrogen into usable energy are the same used in the oil and gas sector.

“I’m hopeful that we will be able to transfer those skills from oil and gas to hydrogen and create a new industry of the future, a green renewable industry.”

 

 

 

Sovereign Wealth  Fund  gains  US$345 million

Dec 30 2022

 US$345 million was credited to the Heritage and Stabilisation Fund (HSF) this year,
However, this pales in comparison to the US$900 million which was withdrawn last fiscal year, Opposition Member of Parliament Roodal Moonilal noted.

Finance Minister Colm Imbert stated,
“On Friday, December 23, 2022, we deposited US$182 million (TT$1.23 billion) into our Heritage and Stabilisation Fund (HSF), preserving wealth for future generations in T&T. This makes a total of US$345 million (TT$2.35 billion) deposited into the HSF in 2022.”

Questioned by the University of the West Indies’ Prof Shirin Haque on where the funds came from,  Imbert responded, “Higher than estimated revenues from petroleum.”

In the latest HSF quarterly investment report posted to the Finance Ministry’s website at the end of June 2022, the total net asset value of the HSF was US$4.77 billion,  approximately US$528 million lower than the previous quarter’s closing value of US$5.299 billion due to withdrawals from the HSF every quarter from December 31, 2020 to September 30, 2021 in the amount of $198.9 million, $293.77 million, $300 million and $100 million, respectively.

In  a press conference,   the United National Congress was asked for a response to  Imbert about  HSF deposits.

Opposition Senator Wade Mark said Imbert was simply following the law. Mark said the Heritage and Stabilisation Act makes it clear that there is a formula within the legislation which states that once the price of crude oil rises above the budgeted price there is a “time frame at which you have to adhere to, to make that sum of money in excess that you have budgeted for and place that said sum into the HSF.”

Imbert pegged the national budget on an oil price of US$92.50 per barrel.  Mark said, based on the current trend with the oil price being below that mark, “what Minister Imbert has done is tell us that there will be no money going into the HSF next year.”

Moonilal said Imbert is “seeking to boast about following the law. “He’s not doing anything special. This is not kindness, this is not a favour,” Moonilal said.
The HSF is denominated in US dollars and its fiscal year ends in September.
The Heritage and Stabilisation Act, No. 6 of 2007 established the HSF with effect from March 15, 2007.

Petroleum contributed $30B in revenue in 2022

Dec 31 2022

Posting a  video  outlining the highlights for the Energy Sector, Minister of Energy  Stuart Young says it is “foolhardy” to think that the only reason this country had great results coming out of the energy sector this year was because of  conflict between Russia and Ukraine.  2022 was a significant year globally for the energy sector.

“On February 22, I was seated next to the Energy Minister from Russia. The world changed on February 24 on the global energy landscape with the Russian/ Ukraine crisis that has directly affected the commodity prices that we rely on here in T&T,” he said.

Oil and gas companies were directly responsible for 57 per cent of the revenue achieved by this country in 2022.

“I can tell you we’ve contributed directly out of our oil and gas companies and our petrochemical sector approximately $30 billion in revenue, that does not include all of the directly associated service companies related to the energy sector, out of a revenue of approximately $53 billion. This year has been a very significant year, one of the things that we have achieved is more global recognition and being at the tables where the global decision-making is taking place with respect to the energy sector,” he said,   citing trips he and Prime Minister  Rowley made to Washington DC.

“I can also report to you right here domestically and locally we have contributed significantly not only to our economy but also to the welfare of our people in T&T.”

Young  lauded the recent agreement for the restructuring of Atlantic LNG.

“We’ve also completed significant negotiations for future gas for T&T and we have been working with the downstream petrochemical sector in T&T on the ammonia and the methanol side where prices have been higher than they have been in many, many years,” he said.

The country must take  climate change seriously especially when considering the future of the energy sector.

“So .. we have signed the methane pledge, we have been .. doing all of our homework with methane which is one of the most harmful gases. We are pushing hard here in the Ministry of Energy for renewables.”

This included the recent 112.2-megawatt solar project as well as the exploration of a hydrogen-based economy.

“We are also working on other areas in the renewables sector and I hope to be able to come to you the population with respect to that in the not too distant future. We are also looking at how can we clean up and decarbonise our energy sector so we are looking at carbon capture, sequestration and utilisation and I hope that we will be able to come to you the citizens with the plan as to how we can get that done because we in T&T, .. have been blessed by the almighty God and we have an industry here that is perfectly poised if we make the right decisions now and implement them that will continue to keep T&T as a global leader in the energy sector.”

He  hailed State companies Heritage Petroleum and the National Gas Company for  financial performances this year.
“We have done well in our energy sector for 2022 but we won’t sit and wait because we know that we must continue to plan and implement for the future generations.”

 

Young ‘deceptive fabrication’

Dec 31 2022

Opposition Member of Parliament David Lee says that Energy Minister Stuart Young’s review of the energy sector in 2022 was nothing but a “deceptive fabrication” to cover up the reality that T&T  energy sector  collapsed due to this government’s chaos and dismal performance.

Lee, in a statement issued hours after Young posted a video reviewing his ministry’s performance for 2022, said it was “utterly ridiculous” that Young had claimed that T&T’s energy sector received global recognition in the last year when this nation has been in the energy industry for over 100 years, “creating a global brand decades before and was once viewed as the Caribbean’s leading energy economy before decimation by this government.

“The foreign energy trips of this government were not a result of global recognition but this government being forced to go “beg” energy companies for investments as seven years without growth and incentives in our energy sector had made T&T globally unattractive. Minister Young needs to end the political delusion and admit that higher energy revenues had nothing to do with this government’s policies but were a result of the European war.”

Highlighting Heritage Petroleum as a success story was “scraping the barrel” for achievements because after four years the State-owned company is yet to surpass the oil production of Petrotrin. The entire oil production for the last fiscal year fell at least 25,000 barrels short of the promised target.

“It was even more absurd to boast about NGC’s profitability when as the sole aggregator of natural gas in T&T it has always been profitable except when it made a loss for the first time under this government.”

Lee noted that this year’s flop of the deepwater round where only four of the 17 blocks received bids was not success but rather a reflection of how “unattractive” the energy sector has become under this government.

 

 

Brighter days in 2023

In his New Year Message, the Prime Minister predicted  brighter days in 2023. He expressed this hope to the nation,  recalling  participation with  religious leaders in national prayer in 2022. He  and those leaders “urged citizens to remember that in periods of great darkness, there is always a dawn to be had.”

That dawn is in the performance of the domestic economy,  which   is seeing signs of resurgence in both the energy and non-energy sectors and in the aftermath of the worst of the covid19 pandemic. The $57.6 billion 2023 budget approved by Parliament in September, “is focused on continuing this growth momentum, concentrating on infrastructure development of our roads, bridges, and government buildings and providing opportunities for our youth in various spheres, including innovative agriculture and increasing our energy sector activity.”

After being forced to tighten TT’s expenditure profile during the last few years, “for the first time in 14 years, this country experienced a budget surplus in 2022, with revenues exceeding planned expenditure.”

While acknowledging this was no easy feat and pointing out TT is not experiencing a boom,  “our carefully managed circumstances are improving.”

Since 2015, “a careful reduction in excessive and wasteful expenditure, combined with significant changes in our energy fiscal regime, have positioned us to benefit from the current, higher energy prices in the world market. There has been a good response and recovery from the non-oil sector and our financial systems remain strong.”

While this is happening,  a new global dynamic has created various challenges.

“High energy prices have resulted in increased global inflation. The cost of food, fuel, electricity, fertilisers and other crucial inputs in manufacturing, agriculture and production has increased globally, to levels unseen in decades.”

Despite these challenges and their ability to erode the purchasing power of ordinary citizens, Rowley said, “I assure you that in 2023, the Government will continue to contain high and rising prices.”

Improved earnings allowed  a renewed attempt to settle a large amount of recurring debt   carried in a number of government departments.  “This will continue into 2023.”

 Government is anxious ” to have its offer to public servants (2013-2019) adjudicated upon by the (special) tribunal (of the Industrial Court) so that negotiations for a new, less traumatic period, can commence in calmer and improved circumstances.”

In November, a dispute with  five trade unions over the    Government’s   four per cent wage offer to public servants was referred to the tribunal for resolution. Those unions included the Public Services Association, Fire Service Association, TTUTA, Prison Officers Association and the Police Social and Welfare Association. The Amalgamated Workers Union and the Defence Force  accepted the four per cent offer while police officers said they were willing to accept it.

Rowley said, “An early settlement as proposed by the Government would see a not insignificant sharing of the increased revenues with a large portion of the population, the salaried and wage-earning class, who have been feeling the brunt of the harsh realities that we have been grappling with in the last few years.”

He cited  restructuring of the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) for better service  and the expansion of Caribbean Airlines’s (CAL) fleet and services across the Caribbean as welcome news.

Legislatively,  “We are cautiously opening discussions on some aspects of public sector reform, and we continue to prosecute white colour crime. We will advance the whistleblower legislation and campaign finance reform on the legislative programme.”

 

 

Trade with PRC exceeds US$1.1B

Jan 11 2023

PRC Ambassador Fang Qiu  told the 2nd China-T&T Investment Cooperation Forum   that trade  exceeded US$1 billion, flourishing  in both 2021 and 2022   during the  pandemic,

“Despite all the challenges China and T&T’s comprehensive cooperative partnership has been resilient and experienced robust development in recent years. The two sides have overcome the endurance of COVID.”

The countries managed to keep in regular contact and as a result trade relations continued to be positive.

“Communication at all levels under the guidance of the leaders of the two countries, their bilateral and practical cooperation teams flourished against the backdrop of the reverse global situation, which has yielded fruitful outcomes in various fields for our two peoples. For two years in a row, annual trade between China and T&T exceeded US $1 billion. In the first 11 months of the year 2022 trade increased by 29.6 per cent on a year-on-year basis to US$1.1 billion.”

Minister of Trade and Industry Paula Gopee-Scoon said this country’s relationship with China served as a major catalyst for economic growth, as the country looked forward to the completion of the Phoenix Park project.

 “There is no doubt that foreign direct investment remains a major catalyst for the development and integration of countries in the global economy. China continues to be a significant partner for the region, which has been especially crucial during these past few years of the pandemic and economic and political turbulence across the world.”

The forum was also a sign that the partnership between the countries could blossom further.

“Notwithstanding this period of unprecedented global disruption, this particular forum is a declaration of the strong relationship between our two countries and the many possibilities that lie ahead in terms of trade, investment and economic cooperation. “T&T remains a place of certainty and continues to be an attractive location for foreign investment from China and elsewhere, due to our economic and political stability; educated and skilled population; geographic location and accessibility; trade openness and rich natural resources.”

The ambassador also expressed enthusiasm concerning  Phoenix Park, which he hailed as a flagship project of the Belt and Road initiative.

“Hopefully, in the coming months, the estate will contribute to the development of trade and investment of T&T, and it will reinforce this strategic position in the region.”

The forum was held both in-person and virtually as PRC participants viewed and shared presentations via video.   Oriental International Business (Holding) Co, Ltd and First Caribbean Marketing Co Ltd  signed a cooperation framework agreement.

 

 

 

Security

Jan 02 2023

Business Leaders  to assist crime solutions

Business chiefs  welcome the  Prime Minister’s  commitment to “overhaul and redoubling” efforts against crime this year, which is expected to begin soon with public conversations. Theyy were looking forward to being included in these talks and were willing to assist in any way possible.

Head of the Downtown Owners and Merchants Association (DOMA), Gregory Aboud said he understood why some people were sceptical but did not share their outlook.

“I do not share the view that conversation cannot help us, simply because many of the measures which could protect this country and protect its citizens have not been implemented especially on the law enforcement side and therefore a conversation could bring to the fore concrete suggestions which have not been employed, which have not been introduced which could help to protect the citizens. So, in that regard, I do not share the negativity about the talk. I am anxious for the conversations to start and it’s a matter of great national emergency and those conversations need to start immediately.”

Chief Executive Officer of the American Chamber of Commerce of T&T, Nirad Tiwarie, said the Joint Chambers not only stood ready to assist but would  working  to find solutions and possible ways to support the government.   However, action needed to follow the talks.

“Of course, the proof of the pudding will be in the eating. So, as much as we genuinely look forward to the engagement, it is the deliberate and focused follow-up action, as well as holding people to account for results that will ultimately matter.”

President of the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Charles Pashley said they, too, were looking forward to the consultations and measures to address crime and believes solutions were attainable.

“If the issues are systemically identified and a solution identified, addressed and implemented for each issue, this should assist in mitigating crime. We look forward to having transparent and fruitful discussion with the Government on what they deem are the issues and the plans in place to address these issues. The crime issues are complex but we also feel that no issue is too large to be addressed and what is required is the leadership desire to solve.”

The year 2022 ended as the bloodiest in the country’s history, with  605 people being murdered. Public fear and concern grew as the toll rose.. It is against this background that Dr Rowley said  increased efforts will be employed.  They will be focused on five areas, the second of which was mentioned earlier but never materialised:

1. The utilisation of the considerable resource allocation to this sector.

2. The public health consideration of criminal conduct in our society.

3. A renewed attempt at parliamentary intervention in support of the work of agencies and institutions.

4. A continued identification and urgent support for “at risk” groups and expansion of the many youth development programmes.

5. Improvements in sustained and effective law enforcement.

The Supermarket Association of TT (SATT) and the Confederation of Regional Business Chambers  raised concern over the rising crime rate as the murder toll crossed 600 on December 30.

“The unrelenting murder rate, which seems to be compounded year on year, looks destined to cross 600 for 2022,” said SATT president Rajiv Diptee.

These statistics not only shock the shopping public but also embolden miscreants while retailers hold their breath wondering if they are next.” As a result , more owners are seeking firearm user’s licences.

“(This) comes at a time when there is a debate about whether the licenses obtained by some persons were deemed to be illicit or ill gotten. In that instance, we welcome the prosecution of those persons so that the legitimate needs of the business community, who continue to cower in fear of the criminal element, are met with some empathy by the office of the Commissioner of Police.”

The cost of securing businesses from criminals, which was already very high, is now increasing with the growing rate of crime.

“This is a cost that can be decreased if there are serious and sustainable actions taken by the authorities to control and reduce crime levels . These costs borne by retailers have become necessary in the face of soaring and organised theft. The perception lingers that there are no consequences for these actions.”

Vivek Charran,  president of the Confederation of Regional Business Chambers, added that escalating  violent crimes  left citizens fearful.

“The increased frequency of gang “revenge killings” in public spaces from high streets to markets and malls and the incidence of such homicides in broad daylight is eroding national confidence and causing great anxiety and fear within the population. Home invasion and opportunistic crime within residential communities is also a cause great concern among citizens and the business community lost several businesses owners to crime in 2022.”

The confederation acknowledged  efforts of the  Police  in  collaborating with the business community through  NGOs and regional corporations but urged  more joint patrols and greater co-operation between the police and customs, immigration and the Defence Force. It  commended the police for the building of a new Forensic Science Centre and a new ballistics center.

“This development has led to the solving of quite a number of murders. We are very pleased about such developments.”

Diptee  advised the authorities to provide a safe environment for businesses to operate. Charran  sought  more collaboration between the protective services and the business community.

“It is only through constructive dialogue, sharing of information and ideas and the building of trust that we can take back our streets and our beautiful country.”

 

Opposition Leader seeks   brave new world

In  New Year greetings Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar  confirmed  that 2022 has been a difficult and challenging year.

 “My hope for 2023 is that we all remember that despite the difficult challenges we face as a people, the power to make a positive change is within us. In 2023 let us discard the negative mentality that is being forced upon us that says, ‘Things could be worse.’ If we accept that apathetic mindset we will constantly lower the bar for ourselves and for generations to come. In 2023, let us instead say to ourselves, ‘Things should be better.’”

 2022 was the year TT witnessed the infamous industrial accident at Paria Fuel Trading Co which resulted in the deaths of Fyzal Kurban, Kazim Ali Jr, Rishi Nagassar and Yusuf Henry.

She  saw the Constitution “come under direct assault..By way of government and state officials sabotaging the independent selection of a substantive Commissioner of Police as well as conspiring to undermine the administration of justice in attempting to influence state witness Vincent Nelson.”

Severe flooding in Diego Martin, Oropouche, Moruga, Caroni and many other areas “.. destroyed infrastructure such as the Manzanilla/Mayaro Road which like many of our roads was already suffering from seven years of neglect and poor maintenance.”

People are also still being affected by rising unemployment, food prices and cost of living.  2022 will be remembered as the year with over 600 murders, the highest in history.

 “The divers who lost their lives at Paria deserve justice, government officials who abuse and undermine our democratic constitutional values deserve to be condemned and held to account, and each and every citizen in our nation deserves to live free from fear, in peace, prosperity and security. Let us make 2023 the year we demand positive change for our nation and discover that we all have the power within ourselves to make it happen. The people of TT deserve a better future.”

 

 

Presidential swan song

 Dec 31 2022

President Paula-Mae Weekes in   her last year-end address  wished for perennial issues   to be rectified in her overall hope for a better country.

“My overarching wish for the nation is for grace and peace. I fear that we have become a savage people. Lines drawn between ethnicities, political affiliations, the haves and have-nots, worker and employer, citizens and migrants have solidified into intolerance, impatience, unkindness, vitriol and, in many cases, downright nastiness. 

No longer do we seem to be able to have differences of opinion without descending into vicious, no-holds barred attacks on the individual rather than a debate or discussion on the issues.

We appear to have lost all courteous goodwill, civility, decency, and respect and are fast becoming a brutish and hostile society.

I pray for a quick return to graciousness, to giving people a fair hearing and a carefully considered response instead of a rush to judgment. 

I deeply desire safety and security in 2023. Safety from man and nature. I would like to be able to see friends off at my gate leisurely .. not  scurrying fearfully to their cars as I lock and bolt my gate behind me.”

She wishes flooding to be resolved,  further stabilisation of the economy so citizens could be more financially prosperous, increased individual practices to safeguard against illness and more programs to address mental health and domestic violence.

“While zero domestic violence is an unrealistic goal, I wish that zero tolerance for it becomes the norm and the vulnerable are taught to recognize the red flags and where they fall victim (they) are provided with the necessary safeguards and services.”

 

 

Political trickery

  Opposition Chief Whip, MP David Lee accused Finance Minister Colm Imbert of “selling dreams” in his  message on Christmas Eve, in which he promised a “much better year . We are going to be doing all we can as a government, and me, as Minister of Finance, to distribute as much of the national wealth as we possibly can to those who really need it. So 2023 is a year when we’re going to go all out to use our improved financial situation to help those most in need and then help everyone, whether you’re working-class or middle-class, whether you’re in business … I wish everyone a very bright and most prosperous new year, 2023.”

 Lee described the 45-second video as “pure political trickery and deception.  For weeks he boasted about the budget surplus, but if Minister Imbert truly understood the meaning of Christmas goodwill, he would have utilised the surplus this month to help fight the cost of living as opposed to selling dreams on Christmas Day. It is time that Minister Imbert’s fancy words, big promises, and ‘carrot on a stick’ politics end.”

Lee said if Imbert was serious about equitable distribution of wealth “he needs to deliver relief now and not when he wants. If the minister is worth his talk, then he would utilise the improved financial situation he boasts about to reinstate the fuel subsidy which would significantly curb the rising cost of living.”

If Imbert were serious about a “better 2023 for citizens of every class … he would ensure proper releases are made for holistic rehabilitation of this nation’s dilapidated road network as well as for local government bodies to undertake cleaning of rivers and other critical community-based infrastructural programs. The country has had enough of Minister Imbert’s ‘all talk no action approach.’ It is time he stops telling the country about the surplus and ensures the entire country, not a selected few, benefits from this surplus through improved health care, the construction or repair of all incomplete schools such as the Claxton Bay Junior Anglican Primary School and reinstate proper funding for technical and vocational training.”

Lee said the country has had enough “lip service” from the government.

“This country has experienced the highest energy prices in years in 2022 yet citizens have not benefited. It is time this government end talk of the improved financial situation and actually delivers for the people or stands aside as the UNC is prepared to do so.”

 

 

UN:  progress on SDGs

The UN  observed in its update for the period January to September 2022  that Trinidad and Tobago is making steady progress on the UN’s 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs).

 “Now more than ever, work to accelerate progress on all 17 SDGs is key.”

With multiple overlapping crises engulfing the world – from the covid19 pandemic to the rising cost of living, the UN said, “It will take steadfast partnerships to ensure the SDGs are achieved by 2030.”

This is why the UN has worked closely with the Government, state agencies, the private sector, civil society and other development partners  with  US $6.3 million in spending for the first nine months of 2022 in four priority areas. These were;

• shared prosperity and resilience:
• resilience to climate change/shocks and sustainable natural resource management;
• peace, safety, justice and the rule of law and equality, well-being and leaving no one behind.

These areas are covered under SDGs five, ten and 16.

Under peace,safety, justice and rule of law, the UN reported that 217 police officers were trained in gender-responsive policing between January and September 2022.

For the  period:

1. 363 refugees and asylum seekers received legal aid.
2. 1,639 children and carers obtained  mental health and psychosocial support.
3. 603 officials   trained on the protection of refugees and asylum seekers  included members of the Judiciary, police and Coast Guard.
4. 1,000 laptops were provided to households lacking  access to e-learning.
5. 2,400 children of migrants and asylum seekers were enrolled in primary and secondary education programmes.

The UN  welcomed the launch of business bootcamps, micro-loans for female-owned small businesses and solar power systems  for 12 communities.  Final data for 2022 will be available in  2023, when the UN’s TT team finalises its annual report.

The 17 UN SDGS-

• GOAL 1: No Poverty
• GOAL 2: Zero Hunger
• GOAL 3: Good Health and Well-being
• GOAL 4: Quality Education
• GOAL 5: Gender Equality
• GOAL 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
• GOAL 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
• GOAL 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• GOAL 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
• GOAL 10: Reduced Inequality
• GOAL 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
• GOAL 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
• GOAL 13: Climate Action
• GOAL 14: Life Below Water
• GOAL 15: Life on Land
• GOAL 16: Peace and Justice Strong Institutions
• GOAL 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal

 

Paria/LMCS should be prosecuted

Jan 13 2023

Senior counsel Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj ,delivering his closing statement, advised that the Commission of Enquiry into the Paria/LMCS Diving Tragedy team make a recommendation to the Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OSHA) to prosecute both Paria and LMCS for breaches of the OSH Act,  as the Commission wrapped up its evidentiary hearings. The Commission is expected to deliver its completed report into the accident that claimed the lives of Fyzal Kurban, Yusuf Henry, Rishi Nagassar and Kazim Ali Jr to the President by April 30.

Maharaj said, “Having regard to OSHA’s preliminary report which suggested that both Paria and LMCS may be guilty of various offences under the OSH Act, the Commissioners may consider, based on the evidence, to recommend proceedings by OSHA.”

He said Section 91:2 of the OSH Act permits the authority to bring summary proceedings against those who have been found to have breached the act, -upon the advice of a Commission.

Maharaj quoted the section of the legislation, saying, “Those proceedings are required to be commenced within six months after the making of the report. The OSH Act imposes duties on employers, occupiers, employees, manufacturers and suppliers of goods.”

He said the act provides that these duties are also owed to visitors and people who may be affected by the operations or activities of the industrial establishment.

The Commission’s chairman, King’s Counsel Jerome Lynch, said the Government must be made aware that there is a six-month window in which OSHA can bring charges before the Magistrates’ Court, so the final report can be made public within the timeframe.
“Any delay in disclosing the report generally and in particular to OSHA, may result in them being time-barred.”

Maharaj  noted the provision of the OSH Act which states that where a person is killed, injured or develops a disease because their employer breached the act, the employer should be liable to a fine of $100,000 or three years’ salary for the employee, whichever is greater.

Lynch noted that the sum was not “very much” and Maharaj agreed.

“We are recommending that this should be looked at, because the evidence here discloses breaches of the OSH Act,” Maharaj said.

Lynch interjected, telling Maharaj that according to its remit, the Commission could not recommend prosecution.

“All we can do is identify the facts and recommend, for example, either the DPP (Director of Public Prosecutions) or OSHA consider whether or not an offence has been disclosed. It is not part of our responsibility to say LMCS are guilty of a crime or Paria are guilty of some breach of the act,” Lynch said.

He said the Commission can only present the facts and invite either of those bodies to consider whether anyone or any company should be prosecuted.

Maharaj also addressed the call made by attorney for several of the victims’ families, Prakash Ramadhar, for the Commission to recommend criminal charges in this matter.

“That issue has been engaging the attention of the legal team but we are not prepared at this time because we have not completed our research on that, we would have the research completed within the next seven days,” Maharaj said.

However, Maharaj said when that research is complete and he gives his legal opinion to the Commission, that recommendation will not be made public.

1. Maharaj also recommended that contractors undergo specific training for Paria’s permit-to-work system and that the company hires independent experts to assess all works before awarding contracts.
2. He said if Paria had hired an independent expert, the risk of a Delta P hazard could have been identified long before the accident which sucked the men into the pipeline.
3. Maharaj said Paria and other companies should adopt and apply international diving standards and that all new pipelines should be augmented to 48 inches instead of 30.
4. He said pipelines should also have elbows that are configured so divers can turn around inside them.

Commission to review evidence
Over the next two months, Lynch KC and subsea specialist Gregory Wilson will consider all the evidence relating to the February 25, 2022, accident at Paria Fuel Trading Company Limited’s Pointe-a-Pierre facility before submitting a report to the President.

The Commission began its sitting at the end of November, 2022 and  its evidentiary hearings came to an end.  Lynch vowed that the four divers who lost their lives will not be forgotten.

“We will not lose sight of the fact that Kazim Ali Junior, Rishi Nagassar, Yusuf Henry and Fyzal Kurban, lost their lives, that Christopher Boodram continues and remains scarred by the events that took place on the 25 of February last year,” Lynch said.

He said the relatives, friends and loved ones of the men will also be considered.
Lynch said the Commission will deliver its report to the President by April 30, but it will be a matter for the Government to decide when the Commission’s report will be made public.

He said he will do all in his power to ensure that a copy of the report is made public as soon as possible.  Findings will be based on the facts that it had been presented with over the past two months.

“Whatever our ultimate findings, it will not be driven by rumour, superstition or emotion, it will have been driven by the evidence that we have heard and read,” Lynch said.

He also thanked the public for welcoming him to T&T and following the work of the Commission.

“All too often, I’ve been stopped in the street, people have come to me and said, can I have your photograph? It’s been slightly embarrassing from time to time but rewarding to think that the efforts that we, Mr Wilson and I, have put in, are appreciated by the public at large,” Lynch said.

 

 

PARIA, LMCS FELL SHORT

 

Enquiry’s attorney hits lack of safety standards at fuel company

Attorney Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, SC delivered his closing statements at the Commission of Enquiry into the Paria Diving Tragedy at the International Waterfront Complex, Port of Spain

Commission of Enquiry counsel Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, SC, said the inevitable conclusion of the evidence presented during the enquiry was that the earliest hours after the incident on February 25 last year, when rescue would have been possible, were squandered by Paria Fuel Trading Company.

During his three-and-a-half-hour closing statement before the commission, he said Paria had a non-delegable duty of care to the contractors it had employed.

“Paria’s permit to work (PTW) is part of the contractual terms and obligations and is binding on them. The PTW rules are also consistent with Paria’s obligations at common law, having regard to the inherently dangerous conditions at Paria’s site, a non-delegable duty in common law.

1. “The expression of ‘non-delegable duties of care’ is commonly used to refer to duties not merely to take personal care to performing a given function but to ensure that care is taken. 
2. Such a non-delegable duty arises where the employer employs an independent contractor to execute inherently dangerous work from which, in the natural course of things, injurious consequences must be expected to arise unless measures are adopted to prevent such consequences. 
3. In such consequences, the employer, Paria, cannot relieve itself of its responsibility by proving it had delegated the performance to a contractor to do the work, however competent the contractor may be.
4. Or even if the employer regards the contractor as a specialist contractor, where the work which the independent contractor is employed to do is inherently dangerous unless done with proper precautions. 
5. The employer is responsible to anyone who sustains injury in consequence of the manner in which the work is done.”

Clause 5.1 of the PTW said the applicant shall be responsible for the job and the safety of the people who work on the job and added, “not only people who are employed with Paria.”

Maharaj said this duty of care extended to Paria’s ensuring the method statement and other documents submitted by LMCS featured all possible scenarios, and the company should have hired competent experts to review the documents rather than relying solely on the contractor’s expertise.

“It is undisputed that Paria accepted the documents submitted by LMCS. It is no defence to say they didn’t have the knowledge to review them, but indeed their duty of care meant they should have hired an expert to review them.”

Paria did not properly supervise LMCS

Paria also failed in its duty of care by not assigning competent people with the relevant qualifications and training to supervise the work being carried out by LMCS.

While Paria would claim the job of the site authority was delegated to another employee, it could not say it wasn’t responsible by delegating it to another incompetent person.

It was clear Paria’s obligation to supervise was not fulfilled, as the person assigned to this duty, Houston Marjadsingh, did not arrive on the berth until 2 pm, after the mechanical barrier had been removed. He said if Marjadsingh had been present, he would have been able to assert Paria’s position that the plugs were to remain in place.

There was no dispute over whether the differential pressure scenario was not identified by either LMCS or Paria, and this was a breach of the duty of care by both companies, as neither was aware of the risk and no adequate emergency response plan was developed.

He said the removal of the contents of the pipeline was an underlying factor in the incident, as it created a gaseous void.  LMCS undertook the line-clearing according to Paria’s work instructions.

Paria executive director Mushtaq Mohammed said the instructions were an internal document but they were deliberately sent to LMCS by the site authority.

Maharaj said it should have been obvious to both LMCS and Paria that too much liquid was being removed from the pipeline, as the process took days and over 1,200 barrels of oil were recorded as being removed.

Looking at the issues which occurred on the day of the incident, he said the toolbox meeting did not specify whether or not the plugs were to be removed and Paria’s representative was not present to give the company’s view.

Maharaj said, based on the reports from In-Corr-Tech president Zaid Khan, the best time for rescue was when Chris Boodram emerged from the pipeline. He said Paria’s operations manager Colin Piper agreed conditions in the pipeline were static.

Maharaj said Paria prohibited diving into the pipeline to attempt rescue and held no consultation with LMCS to review any plans they had for rescue. He said they also did not have competent diving personnel to review any plans. There were three emergency response plans which were presented by LMCS.

Maharaj noted that  people on Paria’s incident response team had differing timelines on the time in which the men could be rescued rather than recovered but all agreed there were diminishing returns, in that the longer the delay, the less likely the chance of rescue.

Maharaj: Rescue effort lacked urgency

“The incident management team failed to take urgent action to rescue the men. Paria didn’t take urgent steps to talk to Boodram, who testified he would have given Paria everything he could tell them if he had been debriefed immediately.

“IMT had a duty to explore all possible ways to rescue the men.”

Commission chairman Jerome Lynch, KC, asked whether rescue was a legal or moral duty.
He said he understood Paria had a moral authority but was concerned whether the duty of care extended to rescuing them. He said if the incident occurred owing to the failure of both companies of not identifying the Delta P hazard, then Paria had a duty of care to attempt to rescue the men, but if not, he did not see how the company should be responsible for rescue.

Maharaj said since Paria was the site authority and the men were sucked into the pipeline on Paria’s land and were at risk of dying, with people offering to risk their lives to save them, “It seems to me the law would be impotent if they didn’t have a duty of care.

“Paria took a position, they didn’t talk to LMCS, they didn’t consult an expert. This is a case where Paria had charge of the compound and exercised the right to prevent people from trying to save lives. They knew they had all the equipment needed, and divers available. They became distracted by wanting to take video to prove what the status was and ignored Boodram. They had a responsibility to confer with LMCS and didn’t do so. Also LMCS had a responsibility to implement a rescue plan but was prevented from doing so by Paria.”

Lynch promised a report by April, and said he would use any influence he had to ensure it was made available to the public. He thanked those who had participated in the commission, including the lawyers and staff. He thanked members of the public for making him feel valued and welcome.

 

 

Paria efforts  ‘entirely reasonable’

 Jan 12 2023

Senior Counsel Gilbert Peterson  for Paria Fuel Trading Company Limited says there is no way the company could truly compensate the families of the four victims in the Paria diving tragedy. Delivering his closing statement to the Commission of Enquiry investigating the accident,  the attorney said:

“There is no truly compensatory measure that could be done to these families, the loss of their loved ones is irreplaceable.”

Paria recognised the need for the Commission to ensure that an event like the tragedy, on February 25, 2022, claiming the lives of four divers, Fyzal Kurban, Rishi Nagassar, Yusuf Henry and Kazim Ali Junior, does not recur.

“Paria and Heritage appreciate that to assist in the bringing closure of these persons in an effort to avoid the recurrence of this event on the 25th that they fully participated, and they did not hold back with the greatest of respect in any way in assisting this commission.”

Paria made certain that every relevant person capable of assisting the Commission was available.  In summing up the efforts of the company after the accident, Peterson described them as “entirely reasonable.”

“The execution of the works up to and including the 25 February 2022, and the rescue and recovery efforts at the end of the day taken by Paria were entirely reasonable, in light of the range of options that were open to it.”

There was no basis for Paria to bear any liability for selecting LMCS as a contractor.

“The fact that Paria did not possess the capabilities to execute such works and also the fact that it took reasonable steps to satisfy itself that the independent contractor it ultimately hired for the works…was a competent and well-established specialist contractor operating in the oil and gas sector…”
Following a competitive tendering process and information gained from LMCS, they were assessed as competent to carry out works on the sealine.

“Paria, in the course of assessing bids, checked LMCS’s references by calling persons/entities/names to verify the materials and services and references that were successfully provided by LMCS to Paria.”

Based on prior work done by LMCS for Petrotrin, the company was deemed fit due to their consistent ratings.

“The Petrotrin database disclosed that during the period 2015-2018, LMCS carried out 124 jobs for Petrotrin and obtained a rating of acceptable for each job with the only other available rating as unacceptable.”

 LMCS had done work similar to what was done on February 2022 only two years before.

“In the year 2020, LMCS successfully completed subsea maintenance works at Berth Number 5 of almost identical nature to those in respect of which Paria had invited them to tender. This could be supported also from the statement of Mr. Kazim Ali Snr…where Mr. Ali detailed in that statement that the job was so similar that inflatable plugs were also used and I think he used the phrase ‘same techniques’.”

 LMCS’s performance on that job was excellent.  Paria based their selection of LMCS for the work on Berth 6, due to their wealth of knowledge and certifications in the field.

“All that Paria was required to do was take reasonable steps to satisfy itself that the independent contractor retained by it (Paria) to carry out the works had the requisite level of competence.  Applying this legal standard, it could hardly be suggested that Paria was negligent in the selection of LMCS as a contractor given LMCS’s knowledge, extensive experience, STOW certification** and track record in executing works of a similar nature.

 

**   [[  Note…