Enill: T&T ready for cleaner fuel

Aretha Welch awelch@trinidadexpress.com
Saturday, May 23rd 2009
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_business?id=161480977

Energy Minister Conrad Enill has predicted that Trinidad and Tobago's role in the energy sector will not diminish in the years to come, despite the world's new focus on cleaner burning fuels and renewable energy, as the country has already prepared for the changes which will come.

Speaking at a national award ceremony hosted by the South Trinidad Chamber of Industry and Commerce to commemorate this country's 100-year stint as a commercial producer of energy resources, Enill said, "In a future of clean fuels, we stand ready to engage the world with our expertise in the use of ... natural gas."

Following the ceremony, which was hosted at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Port of Spain, renowned local energy consultant Trevor Boopsingh reiterated the minister's statement, when he said that T&T will have a very big role as the world moves from using carbon fuels to using cleaner burning and less environmentally hazardous sources of energy. However, the energy expert told the Express that the global transformation would take about 50 years and in the meantime, natural gas would be the cleanest burning fossil fuel in use, and as such T&T's expertise in the area of monetising natural gas would be called upon. Several energy experts have said that this country's energy sector is now moving away from oil production and is cashing in big time on the country's natural gas resources. During the ceremony, several of the industry's top minds and contributors were honoured, including the country's oldest living oil field worker, Elbert Redvers Blades, who celebrated his 107th birthday last month. Former petroleum and mining (energy) minister, Errol Mahabir, also took home an award for his contribution as a leader within the industry.