Alutrint construction plans on schedule

By Louis B Homer
Wednesday, March 25th 2009
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_business_mag?id=161456856

ALUTRINT TRINIDAD is determined to begin production of smelter products by 2011 despite the economic meltdown now affecting several manufacturing companies locally and worldwide.

Already, the company has secured a loan of US$450 million to service the construction of the plant at Union Estate, La Brea, and CEMEC, the Chinese construction company contracted to build the plant has completed the construction of three prefab dwellings to accommodate the 1500 Chinese workers who will be housed on the construction site near Square Deal Village.

Jossieann Richards, Communications Manager attached to Alutrint told the Business Express that the quarters are almost complete. "We are just waiting for the sewer plant to be completed before the foreign workers move in."

She said the quarters were constructed following recent CEC approval by the EMA.

The workers are presently occupying houses at Harriman Park, Point Fortin, "but they will vacate the houses as soon as the quarters are completed," said Richards.

Last week, some 60 Chinese workers participated in an orientation programme held at Point Fortin Senior Secondary School.

Richards said "the programme was designed to ensure that the workers understand the basic laws of Trinidad and Tobago and also to expose them to some aspects of local culture."

"The workers will get their first experience of Trinidad culture when Point Fortin celebrates Borough Day in May," said an official of the organising committee of the Borough Day celebrations.

The Business Express learnt that compaction and piling for the plant is well underway and in addition to the Chinese workers Alutrint will be employing some 50 locals, "preferably from La Brea to work on the project," said Richards.

Equipment for the piling arrived in Trinidad two months ago and has been installed on the plant site near Square Deal Village, which is designated as the "buffer zone" for the plant.

Square Deal Village is located on lands owned by Petrotrin and has been leased to the National Energy Corporation.

Richards said "Square Deal Village will be used as the buffer zone for the plant and already some 12 squatters living in the village have been relocated to new homes by the NEC at Pier Road La Brea."

She said there are some 68 squatters to be relocated, and on completion the houses they now occupy will be demolished.

Frederick Cornwall, president of Square Deal Committee was one of the people who recently received the keys to a house at Pier Road.

"Moving to a new site was challenging to me but I did not have a choice," he said.

Anita George, a woman suffering with asthma, was also relocated to Pier Road.

She told the Business Express that she was happy to move because the dust coming from the construction site was affecting her adversely.

"As the trucks move through the area leading to the construction site the dust becomes unbearable," she said.

But Richards said the company has stepped up its dust elimination programme.

"What we are doing now is to ensure that the road is sprinkled with water, almost on a continuous basis," she said.

Cornwall said not all the squatters will be moved to Pier Road. "Some have opted for a cash incentive of approximately $200,000 while others will be moved to Hubertstown, Point Fortin," he said.

Each of the houses distributed to the squatters at Pier Road is valued between $300-350,000.

Cornwall said the only payments that they are expected to make to the National Housing Corporation is $100 to cover legal fees.

The controversial smelter plant which has undergone several phases, including some protest by the villagers of Union Estate, is expected to become a reality and by 2011 when the company expects to begin production.

Senator Tina Gronlund- Nunez in delivering the feature address at the recent handing over of 12 houses to residents of Square Village said, "Alutrint operation is key to the diversification into new manufacturing/energy products."

She explained that "with the completion of the plant the opportunities for down stream aluminum manufacturing will include roofing materials, aircraft parts, vehicle body parts, weather-resident composite panels, ingots, utensils, ladders, containers, electrical conductors and more."

She said that at the peak of construction "some 3000 jobs will be created, and on a permanent basis approximately 800 persons will be employed."

She said that it is estimated that there will be spin off of some 2000 jobs.

Several anti-smelter activists have denounced the plan as one that will affect the health of the people as well as the destruction of certain aspects of the environment.

Dr Peter Vine, and Dr Wayne Kublalsingh have strongly opposed the construction.

The residents of La Brea have cautiously supported the venture in the hope that they would gain employment on the plant and regain the economic strength that once prevailed in La Brea.