Caption: Kevin Ramnarine
By Alicia Chamely
FORMER Minister of Energy and Energy Affairs Kevin Ramnarine has been chosen to lead a team of experts to assess the reactivation of the Guaracara refinery.
Speaking at Thursdays post post-cabinet press briefing at the Red House, Port of Spain, Energy and Energy Affairs Dr Roodal Moonilal said a note had been passed in cabinet to appoint an assessment committee to investigate the reopening of the former Petrotrin refinery in Guaracara.
Moonilal said, “We have taken immediate steps towards the goal of the reactivation of the refinery which has been out of commission for almost seven years, a committee now has been approved by the cabinet.”
He said the assessment team would “examine the technical evaluation for the return of refining, human resource required, financial, regulatory and feedstock requirements and commercial arrangements.”
Saying the committee would meet very soon, he added, “We are hoping this committee will take a maximum of four months, or maybe less, to return with a report to the minister of energy and energy industries which will be transmitted to the cabinet and will speak to the issue of the reopening of the refinery.”
Questioned as to what had become of the expressions of interest to take over the refinery from both local and international entities made under the last administration, Moonilal said those had been put on hold until the assessment was completed.
Moonilal said the last assessment of the refinery had been done in 2020, and in a fast-paced industry the refinery may need much work to get back up to speed.
He said currently the refinery at Guaracara costs the taxpayer $5.6 million per month when one looks at the other costs associated with the mothballing of the refinery.
Moonilal said an assessment was needed before the government could look into any form of interests from outside entities.
He explained that entities may make “bids on projections that are out of sync with the reality of they will meet at the refinery.”
Moonilal added, “And if we go down that road we could end up with another NiQuan.”
Asked about any new expressions of interest he said he had received information on expressions other than those in the public space but was not at liberty to speak on them.
Given that two members of the committee were affiliated with the Oilfield and Trade Workers Union (OWTU), Moonilal was asked as to whether that would give them an unfair advantage should the reactivation of the refinery be placed back into the stage of expressions of interest.
He said in his opinion it would not be advantageous to the union in any future bidding process should that be recommended.
Moonilal said once the assessment report was handed over to the ministry and then to cabinet, the government would know how to proceed.
He confirmed the report would be made public, adding, “it’s not like it’s a secret report.”
The Refinery Reactivation Team is as follows:
- Kevin Ramnarine – Former Minister of Energy and Energy Affairs
- Sheriba Ali-Rajack- Former VP of Finance at Petrotrin
- Kelvin Harnanan – Former VP of Retail and Marketing at Petrotrin
- Gowtam Maharaj – Former Petrotrin Refinery Manager
- Kishore Jhagroo – University Lecturer in Engineering and Maintenance
- Lesley Chang – Operations and Process Engineer
- Christopher Jackman – Oilfield and Trade Workers Union (OWTU) branch president
- Danny Golcharan – Electric systems, former OWTU monthly representative
- Margaret De Silva Ocando- Planning and economic, scheduling, commercial port and marine manager
- Yashi Carrington – Senior Chemical Engineer at the Ministry of Energy and Energy Affairs
- Anushka Sookoo – Chemical Engineer at the Ministry of Energy and Energy Affairs
- Len Chan Chow – Port, Marine, and Shipping Expert
