By Sue-Ann Wayow
MINISTER of Energy and Energy Industries Dr Roodal Moonilal is one step closer to establishing energy partnerships with Grenada.
Dr Moonilal met with Grenada’s Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell who is also responsible for Grenada’s energy matters over the weekend during a visit to Grenada.
During the meetings that took place from August 23 to 24, Dr Moonilal met with Mitchell, the Attorney General of Grenada and Minister for Legal Affairs, Claudette Joseph, and several other key personnel, a release from the ministry stated on Tuesday.
On May 3, at the swearing-in ceremony for cabinet members, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, mandated the newly appointed Minister of Energy and Energy Industries, to urgently engage with the government of Grenada to foster collaboration in the energy sector.
In fulfilment of that mandate, the ministry promptly initiated contact through formal correspondence, which culminated in the recent in-person meetings between the respective parties.
Dr Moonilal brought greetings on behalf of Persad-Bissessar.
The discussions that followed focused on exploring opportunities for collaboration within the oil and gas sector.
Dr Moonilal took the opportunity to highlight Trinidad and Tobago’s robust and well-established energy infrastructure, as well as the extensive experience and technical knowledge the country has gained as a longstanding global hydrocarbon producer.
In 2012, Persad-Bissessar’s administration and Grenada signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation on energy development.
The ministry stated, “This renewed engagement builds upon that MoU and signals Trinidad and Tobago’s readiness to share its oil and gas expertise in support of Grenada’s energy development.”
Mitchell welcomed the opportunity for collaboration and expressed Grenada’s commitment to deepening partnerships with Trinidad and Tobago, especially in the area of support services as Grenada is at the early stage of assessing its hydrocarbon resource potential.
“Collaboration would allow for the transfer of skills and technology, which in turn would bring mutual benefits to the people of Trinidad and Tobago and the people of Grenada through jobs, income, and opportunities,” the release stated.
In closing, Dr Moonilal thanked Mitchell for his warm reception and reiterated that Trinidad and Tobago’s energy infrastructure was open for business and remains a feasible option for the Caribbean region to monetise its hydrocarbon resources.
