Caption: Dr Roodal Moonilal. Photo: T&T Parliament
By Alicia Chamely
MINISTER of Energy and Energy Industries Dr Roodal Moonilal is confirming that discussions are being held between the National Energy Corporation (NEC) and Nutrien regarding the use of the port at Point Lisas.
He is also hitting back at former Energy Minister Stuart Young, saying Young failed to negotiate new contractual arrangements with Nutrien and other downstream operators during his tenure.
On Tuesday, the Canadian company Nutrien announced a controlled temporary shutdown of its Point Lisas plant, citing NEC’s decision to restrict Nutriens access to the port as the two entities are locked in a dispute over $7 million in retroactive port service fees.
Nutrien also stated the lack of an economic and reliable natural gas flow had affected the financial efficiency of their operations.
Responding to Nutrien’s announcement, Young made a statement on his Facebook page cautioning that Nutrien’s closure was the first sign of the collapse of the energy sector and labelled the government “incompetent.”
In a press release from the Ministry of Energy and Energy Affairs, Moonilal confirmed discussions between NEC and Nutrien were taking place regarding contractual updates and for the use of the port.
Moonilal said, “We are in ongoing discussions with Nutrien concerning port restrictions and port access and I expect that this matter will continue to occupy our attention. Those discussions are ongoing, and we will have further updates in the coming days.”
Striking back at Young’s criticisms, Moonilal said, “The National Energy Corporation, under the former administration of Mr. Stuart Young at the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries failed, in over four years, to negotiate new contractual arrangements with several of the downstream operators. This fell to us as we entered office.”
He said, “Again, to confirm that this is a matter that is ongoing, and we are meeting with the various entities and users of the port to do what the former administration failed to do, which is to regularize and update contractual arrangements surrounding the use of the port and related matters.”
