Energy minister confirms ongoing talks with Nutrien

Minister of Energy and Energy Industries Dr Roodal Moonilal has confirmed that discussions are ongoing between Nutrien and the National Energy Corporation (NEC) on contractual arrangements related to port use and other operational matters.

Dr Moonilal said Nutrien, along with other downstream operators and port users, has been in meetings with NEC to address updates to existing contracts. He stated that the previous administration, under former Minister of Energy and Energy Industries Stuart Young, had failed to negotiate new contractual arrangements with several downstream operators over a four-year period.

According to Dr Moonilal, the current Government has since taken steps to regularize and update the necessary agreements. He said discussions regarding port access and restrictions are continuing and further updates will be provided in the coming days.

Dr Moonilal said the Government is working with the various entities to complete what the previous administration had not done, ensuring proper contractual arrangements are in place for the use of the port and related matters.

Former Minister Stuart Young, in a statement on Facebook on Tuesday morning, raised concerns about the state of the energy sector under the current administration. He cited recent changes to the boards of the National Gas Company (NGC) and NEC as contributing to what he described as a developing crisis at the Point Lisas Industrial Estate.

The exchange follows Nutrien’s announcement of a planned shutdown of its Trinidad Nitrogen operations at the Point Lisas facility.