Caption: Energy Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal, centre, with Minister of Legal Affairs Saddam Hosein, left, and Minister of Local Government Khadijah Ameen
By Alicia Chamely
MINISTER of Energy Dr Roodal Moonilal is actively engaging with the governments of Suriname and Guyana to fast-track a series of mutually beneficial initiatives to revitalise the energy sector.
Speaking Thursday at the Post Cabinet media briefing, held at the Red House, Abercromby Street, Port of Spain, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said, “Our efforts are focused on actively promoting economic cooperation in the energy sector within the region by the establishments of agreements to serve with binding force to unite our countries and to place Trinidad and Tobago once again as the centre and the hub of the energy sector of the CARICOM.”
She said Dr Moonilal and Minister in the Ministry of Energy Ernesto Kesar had been mandated, as in keeping with the United National Congress’s (UNC) policy position, to engage with Suriname and Guyana to bolster inter-regional energy relations.
Persad-Bissessar announced fast fast-tracking had begun the establishment of a solar EV power plant in Suriname by our national energy agency.
Fast tracking had also begun with the technical and economic feasibility assessment of a cross-border subsea pipeline from Suriname to Trinidad as an option for monetising gas from Suriname and Guyana by way of the National Gas Company (NGC).
She said Dr Moonilal and Kesar were expected to appear as featured speakers at the Suriname Oil and Gas Summit being held in June.
Persad-Bissessar said, “They will maximise this opportunity to engage in high level discussions with key entities from the region in order to support energy initiatives and ensure economic benefit to TT.”
She said the goals of these inter-regional discussions and initiatives “will result in mutual value creation, sustainability through energy endeavours in partnership with our CARICOM neighbours.”
Persad-Bissessar said they are also actively engaged in pursuing the Grenada Gas initiative to ensure the resources within the region are optimally developed for the benefit of not only T&T but for the region.
She assured the public that her government would bring financial success back to T&T’s energy sector.
