Caption: Chief Engineer of the Stena Prosperous with members of the media. Photo: Proman
By Prior Beharry
METHANOL and ammonia producer Proman is looking for other gas fields to compensate for the lack of the natural gas feedstock for its 14 Point Lisas plants.
This according to Managing Director of Operations of Proman Aleeya Ali.
Currently Proman’s upstream company DeNovo Energy monetises gas from the Iguana and Zandolie fields in Block 1(a) in the Gulf of Paria about 45 kilometres from the Point Lisas Industrial Estate.
The field supplements natural gas to its plants with the main supply coming from the National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago (NGC).
Natural gas production in Trinidad and Tobago is currently about 2.5 billion cubic feet of per day. Energy insiders say that the country has to get close to four billion cubic feet per day to have a proper supply to the more than 20 plants at Point Lisas that use natural gas as a feedstock.
Media tour
Speaking on Friday to the media at the Proman head office at Atlantic Avenue in Point Lisa, Ali noted that one its plants was idle due to lack of a gas supply but noted that the DeNovo investment rapidly monetised stranded gas fields for methanol production.
She said, “We are looking at other similar opportunities and having developed that DeNovo model for rapidly developing such fields there is ongoing discussions with the government and stakeholders in terms of more investments like that.
“And of course we are in full support of the work that the government is doing and the upstreamers to get long-term gas supply into Trinidad. So a lot of effort country-wide that we support and then Proman efforts to look for other opportunities like the DeNovo opportunity to get gas into the plant into the future depending on the success.
Asked about if any particular gas field was of interest, Ali said, “We are in active conversation with the upstreamers and with the government.”
On Friday, the media got a tour the Stena Prosperous, one of six-methanol-fulled tankers of Proman, that delivers it products in the Americas and Europe.
The Stena Prosperous arrived at the Plipdeco Port to refuel and prepare for its next voyage. This month will also see the Stena Pro Patria refuelling and being supplied with products for export.
“With two ships refuelling this month, 12,500 MT of methanol fuel will have been supplied by Proman to vessels in Trinidad in the past 12 months, demonstrating its potential as a methanol bunkering hub,” a release from Proman stated.
The media visited the Stena Prosperous’ bridge and engine room that was not dirty like other ships that use fuel oil.
Ali said, “The huge increase in orders for methanol-fuelled ships, and our regular refuelling here in Trinidad, shows the viability of methanol as a marine fuel and the potential of Point Lisas and Trinidad as a bunkering hub. We are proud to not only export Trinidad produced methanol, which supports jobs, the local economy and our communities, but to also put Trinidad on the map as a hub for cleaner, alternative marine fuels.”
Anita Gajadhar, Executive Director, Marketing and Logistics at Proman said: “Methanol is increasingly becoming a mainstream marine fuel as ship owners understand its versatility and cleaner burning properties.
“Because every methanol molecule is the same, no matter what feedstock it is produced from, it can be blended as production of green methanol is ramped up over time, providing a pathway to net zero. Stena Prosperous’ journey from Singapore to Trinidad has showcased this and the ability of ship owners to meet the trajectory of greenhouse gas emissions reductions required by the IMO and regulatory frameworks such as Fuel EU Maritime with methanol.”
Also at the tour were Director of Marketing and Logistics Hanna Sukhu-Maharaj, Global Director of Shipping of Proman in Switzerland Matthias Classen and Corporate Communications Officer Fayola Denoon.
Methanol hub
Sukhu-Maharaj said Trinidad and Tobago had the potential to becoming a methanol hub.
She said, “You have the Gulf of Paria, which… usually really has good weather and a smooth sea, which you need for bunkering operations.
“And it’s right on the main trade line. So in between South America and the US, which is a major trade line.
“Also, ships going from South America to Asia, they’re literally passing Trinidad. So the deviation to go east of Trinidad or west of Trinidad is minor. It’s not even really deviation. So it’s a very attractive location.”
She added, “And of course, we’re within three or four days away from the Panama Canal which is probably the most utilised canal globally.
“So when you think about where we’re positioned, it’s really ideal for our country.”
Ali said methanol was available at more than 120 ports globally, including Point Lisas where methanol refuelling is now regularly conducted.
She said Data from DNV shows that 300-methanol fuelled vessels were expected to be on the water by 2027, not including bunker barges or retrofits, and over 70 have been ordered so far in 2024 alone.
The Switzerland-based Proman operates 17 plants world wide with 14 in Trinidad.
It produces methanol, melamine and urea ammonium nitrate (UAN), a liquid nitrogen-based fertilizer.
More than 1,100 of its 1,700 employees are from Trinidad and Tobago.
As the major cruise ship Agent in Trinidad and Tobago, we have been working with our Cruise Lines to start bringing their cruise ships to Trinidad to re-fuel with our Methanol and support the efforts by Proman.