$$ crisis halts plant

Camille Bethel cbethel@trinidadexpress.com
Tuesday, June 23rd 2009
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_business?id=161495301

Two weeks ago Prime Minister Patrick Manning said both the Alutrint aluminium smelter and the Essar steel mill would be built.

The High Court has at least temporarily blocked the building of the smelter and the global financial meltdown has stalled the steel mill.

Roshan Babwah, Essar Steel Caribbean Ltd's manager administration/community affairs, said the company has a Certificate of Environmental Clearance (CEC) from the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) to build. The India-based company intends to build a US$2.2 billion plant near Pranz Gardens, Claxton Bay, on the Pt Lisas Industrial Estate.

A proposed port near the mangroves growing between the estate and Claxton Bay fishing port will facilitate the importation of iron ore from Brazil. The Essar Group has secured a mineral concession in North Brazil to supply iron ore for the 2.5 million tonne plant. The project has seen protest from the some of the same anti-smelter activists whose legal challenge resulted in the court blocking the Alutrint smelter construction at La Brea. Babwah said the Essar CEC was dated August 2006 "but was are on hold because of the world financial crisis". He said: "We are, however, committed to this project and we are tying up loose ends at this time." Babwah said as soon as the financial situation changed, the company would begin construction.