September 26, 2008
The long-awaited Amnaila Falls Hydro Electric Power (AFHEP) project in Guyana is now expected to get underway during the first quarter of next year once there is a financial closure with a number of private and public sector partners.
Once the US$400-US$500 million Kuribrong River project gets underway it is expected to be completed within three years. Phase 1 will involve the installation of 154 megawatt capacity; the installation of 278 km of double circuit 230 KV lines; and the construction of 85 kilometres of new access roads. Hydro-electricity has been a long promised power option since the 1960s, but is yet to materialize. At present bids for engineering, procurement and construction are out to tender.
September 23, 2008
The spiralling price of oil on the world market has significantly impacted Jamaica, forcing the government to explore alternative sources of energy. As a result several initiatives are being explored to come up with alternative sources, including ethanol, solar energy, wind, bio-fuel, as well as partnerships with local and international agencies.
Co-generation plantThe project will involve the construction of a 120-megawatt (MW) co-generation facility at the JPS' Hunts Bay plant, which will be run on petroleum coke (petcoke), produced by Petrojam. Petcoke is a blend between petroleum and bio-gas which costs less than a quarter of the price paid for fuels, such as coal. The project is estimated to cost US$500 million and will be completed by 2013.
The ethanol refinery situated at Rockfort in Kingston, which is jointly operated by the Governments of Jamaica and Brazil, will be taken over fully by the Government in May. This will be implemented as part of the Government's thrust to establish a domestic ethanol and, by extension, a renewable energy industry in the island. Jamaica has also been exploring for oil, adding to the possibilities that some would be found.
Energy Conservation Measures
Audits have been carried out in a number of Ministries and agencies and the necessary recommendations made with strict monitoring to ensure that they comply. The National Water Commission (NWC) is being encouraged to use more energy efficient pumps and solar where possible. A booklet entitled, 'Energy Conservation Measures and Tips for Residential and Small Commercial Sectors', was produced by the Energy Division to assist in the campaign.
September 18, 2008
Inactivity at the Hydro power plant at Padu is one of the reasons for the high cost of electricity in Dominica. Prior to the passage of Hurricane Dean in August 2007, Dominica produced 35-40% of its electricity through Hyrdo power. Following the suspension of operations at Padu as a result of Dean, Dominica is now producing less than 25% of its energy needs from hydro. As a result of that more diesel is needed to make up for that shortfall.
Government plans to increase the country’s generating capacity by building a 15 megawatt plant in phases financed by the Government of Venezuela. It is expected that heavy fuel will be used thereby reducing costs.
August 31, 2008
The Government of Jamaica has invited proposals to set up the US$500 million (J$3.6 billion) waste-to-energy facility that would generate ethanol from waste. This plan would see the Government possibly purchasing garbage for the purpose of producing energy, while scaling down dumping at its current landfills and dumps. The Office of Utility Regulations is currently evaluating proposals from bidders for a contract to be be awarded by the end of the year.
August 28, 2008
Suriname has launched an investigation into the spilling of several thousand liters of diesel fuel into a river, which left a maroon village in the interior without drinking water. A gold mining company has accidentally spilled some 20,000 liters of diesel in the Suriname River close to the Bakaliba village.
“Villagers can no longer use the water to cook, wash or bathe.”
So far checks which have been undertaken to establish the extent of the contamination reveal that the Flora and fauna in the affected area have so far not been affected by the spill. According to a report, during an attempt to unload a quantity of fuel from an oil tanker of the Sarakreek Resources Corporation, two tanks each containing 10,000 liters diesel fell into the river due to strong winds. It has been reported that there was a large oil film on the surface of the river. Meanwhile the mining company has taken several initiatives to provide the Bakaliba village with potable water, while the National Coordination Center for Disaster Management (NCCR) is already on the scene to assess the situation. The oil tanker that caused the oil spill has meanwhile been confiscated by the Suriname Maritime Autority (MAS).
August 28, 2008
The governments of Saint Lucia and Venezuela met to discuss an offer from Venezuela of low cost housing units to Saint Lucia as well as the provision of technical scholarships to Saint Lucian students. The meeting also explored the possibility of yearly student exchange visits.
Regarding the PetroCaribe Agreement, Venezuela also agreed to make available a soft loan of US$ 3 million to the proposed Saint Lucia Development Bank for lending to its clients.
A technical team has been set up to finalize a Memorandum of Understanding between the two countries.
August 27, 2008
Geothermal training is in the works for Nevisians. The United Nations University Geothermal Training Programme (UNU-GTP) has operated in Iceland since 1979, with an aim at assisting developing countries with geothermal potential to build up or strengthen groups of specialists in most aspects of geothermal exploration and development. Anumber of professional studies in geothermal are available in Iceland and the Nevis Reformation Party (NRP) led Nevis Island Administration (NIA) is working towards getting interested residents of Nevis, to work towards degrees and certificates in this renewable energy resource to the island.
Presently there are no training courses for persons who do not have a first degree, but the (NIA) will be seeking to have a course of study put in place for those individuals who are interested but do not have a professional degree. The UNU-GTP offers courses in Geological Exploration, Borehole Geology, Geophysical Exploration, Borehole Geophysics, Reservoir Engineering, Chemistry of Thermal Fluids, Geothermal Utilization and Drilling Technology. Geothermal training in Iceland is intended to provide participants with the ability to carry out independent execution of projects at home.
A six months course is available and includes an introductory lecture course, specialized training, carrying out of projects with report writing and a number of lines of specialization.
Fellowships are awarded to developing countries and some countries are financed by the government of Iceland. Fellowships for MSc studies are offered to the best students, and PhD Fellowships have become recently available.
August 25, 2008
The Premier of Nevis, Joseph Parry led a delegation to Iceland aimed at acquiring first hand experience of geothermal plants at work, holding discussions with geothermal plant operators, while at the same time meeting officials, including the Prime Minister and members of the government and the Icelandic International Development Agency(ICEIDA). Iceland has had experience with the natural resource for over half a century.
During the two day mission, the Premier and his delegation met with a number of other agencies including: The National Energy Authority, the Icelandic International Development Agency and the Iceland GeoSurvey. The Nevis delegation also met with officials of educational institutions, such as the United Nations University which specializes in Geothermal Training, and the Reykjavik Energy Graduate School of Sustainable Systems. Premier Parry also held talks with private owned companies such as ENEX and Geysir Green Energy, both of which have a keen interest in geothermal.
The delegation gleaned a wealth of additional information when they toured a number of geothermal plants where senior officials made presentations on the history, development and operation of the said industries. It is expected that over the next few months, the Icelandic Government, through the National Energy Agency and the ICEIDA will provide technical assistance, consultancy and advice to the Nevis Island Administration (NIA). This will include a number of visits to Nevis, from experts in geothermal operations in Iceland.
August 23, 2008
A new ethanol dehydration plant is proposed to be built at the Bulk Terminal Facility near to the Spring Garden Highway in Barbados. The project is to be undertaken by a Brazilian company - Etanol de Costa Rice SA. Williams Industries, a local company, will also be involved in the project. Construction is expected to commence by year end. A number of potential effects the plant could have on the environment, include the production of waste water, water contamination from ethanol, and technical hazards such as fires and explosions. The main purpose of the plant is to remove water from ethanol to make it usable as an automotive gas additive. The processed ethanol will then be exported to the US. Barbados has attracted the developers because of its location -- midway between Brazil and the US east coast, and also because off the existing deep port facility and its close proximity to an industrial site. The plant is expected to produce about 132 million gallons (500 million litres) of dry ethanol a year, refining ethanol imported from Brazil. The fuel is expected to be sold to the US through Caribbean duty-free concessions not available to Brazil.
August 20, 2008
Expansion is expected to begin on the Wigton Windfarm situated in Manchester, Jamaica in September this year. Nine wind turbines are to be added to the 23 installed. The nine turbines originating from Denmark will be supplied by Vestas Wind Systems and will add 18 megawatts (MW) of generating capacity to the 20.7 MW already installed at Wigton. A small portion of the funds will be tapped from the PetroCaribe Fund to expand the Wigton Windfarm.
The Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica opted to take on the project after failed attempts to bring private equity partners on board. The wind project will add 55 million kilowatts of electricity to the national power grid annually and reduce the petroleum import bill by US$3.2 million. The project will last for one year and the new equipment commissioned by 2010. A wind mapping project by the PCJ shows Portland, St Thomas, St Elizabeth and Manchester as possible wind sites.
August 15, 2008
Night flights from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport will resume from Thursday evening following the arrival of 40 portable solar-powered lights together with back-up batteries from Barbados. The lights will complement the 30 additional lights that will power the runway area.
August 06, 2008
PetroCaribe countries have agreed to promote national public investments and cooperation alliances among the member countries in the areas of agricultural knowledge and science and technology. The decision was taken at the conclusion of a meeting on July 30, 2008 hosted in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. The Ministers and Secretariats of Agriculture gathered in Honduras for the first Ministry meeting in the framework of the PetroCaribe member countries, in compliance to the mandates of the Heads of State and Governments in their meeting in Maracaibo, Venezuela on July 13, 2008 to discuss agro-food initiatives. The meeting also resolved to ratify that PetroCaribe, in accordance to the principles of the Alternativa Bolivariana par los Pueblos de Nuestra America (ALBA). It seeks to reach a higher degree of independence and social and economic development for the people, through the creation of financial instruments that seek the development of the agricultural sector and integral rural development that will guarantee the food security and sovereignty of our countries. Another resolution of the meeting was the consolidation of the Fondo Petrolero for food production as part of the initiative from ALBA to create compensatory funding to correct the disparities that put countries with weak economies at a disadvantage.
Venezuela would contribute $2 million for each of PetroCaribe’s 18 member nations to support urgent food projects. The PetroFood initiative, will be financed through the proceeds from the sale of oil. The fund is largely backed by a Venezuela promise to donate 5 US cents for every barrel of oil sold at a price above US$100. It is expected to provide US$400 to 500 million per year for farm development and other projects in Central American and Caribbean countries.
The fund will be oriented toward funding food production and innovative farming projects to face the food crisis caused by speculation and protection measures, like the subsidies from the developed countries, the use of food as a raw material for fuel, and the high cost of essential agricultural inputs to propel integral rural development, sustainable food production, and its distribution and exchange under principles of solidarity complementarities, cooperation, social justice, reciprocity and equity. The development of a bank of inputs and a support services network for agriculture and the rural area, with the distribution capacity to especially address the more vulnerable populations, stressing the farming and indigenous communities among others was also identified as priority areas of the new ALBA agricultural agenda. PetroCaribe countries are made up of states that signed on to the Caribbean alliance with Venezuela to purchase oil on conditions of preferential payment. Petrocaribe was formed in June of 2005.
August 01, 2008
Dominica has granted a licence to the West Indies Power Dominica Limited (WIPD) for the purpose of developing the country's geothermal energy resources in the Soufriere/ Scotts Head area. The signing of an agreement between the Government of Dominica and West Indies Power Dominica Limited took place at the Fort Young Hotel on July 24, 2008. The benefits to be derived from this relationship will significantly reduce the cost of electricity for all consumers as well as act as a catalyst for the expansion of the economy in arase such as manufacturing, agriculture and aquaculture.
Phase One (exploration phase) will involve geochemical, geological and geophysical surveys to identify the geothermal fields and estimate the potential of the resources available in the south of the island. The estimated time for this phase is approximately eighteen months. The exploration phase will cost approximately $11 million ECD and will be funded by the private capital of West Indies Power Holdings (BV), parent company of West Indies Power Dominica Limited.
The next phase will see the construction of a 15 megawatt plant which should be completed in 12-16 months after the exploration phase has finished. The cost of construction of the plant is estimated at EC $120 million and is expected to be completed by the end of 2010. Dominica is expected to receive 10 percent equity stake in West Indies Power Dominica Limited. Dominica will also receive annual royalties of 3 percent on the domestic supply and 5 percent on export of the gross sales power including carbon credits. The implementation of the project “Preparation of a Geothermal-based Cross-Border Electrical Interconnection in the Caribbean" as well as the “Geothermal Energy in the Caribbean Islands Project” puts Dominica at the vanguard of international efforts aimed at the development of renewable energy resources.The signing of a transnational partnership agreement between the government of Dominica and the Regional Council of Guadeloupe for the development of Dominica’s geothermal energy resources took place earlier this year. This agreement falls under the Geothermal Energy in the Caribbean Islands project.
West Indies Power Holdings BV is a St. Maarteen registered company formed in 2001. The company has already identified the geothermal resource in Nevis and hopes to supply power to St. Kitts and Nevis by the end of 2009.
August 01, 2008
Jamaica has plans to build three more wind energy plants at an adjoining property in Wigton (20 MW), Munro/Hampton (20MW) and Great Valley (40 MW) at a combined estimated cost of US$208 million.
These renewable energy projects have the potential to earn an estimated US$4 million annually from carbon credits.
June 04, 2008
The Trinidad & Tobago government has approved a total of 28 scholarships to be offered in fields relating to energy and energy industries. These scholarships will be based on contractual arrangements between the Government and companies in the oil and gas sector. The scholarships will be financed from funds available under terms and conditions of production sharing contracts between companies in the oil and gas sector and the Government.
June 04, 2008
EQUIPMENT IS on the way to Trinidad from China for the construction of the country’s first aluminum smelter plant.
April 28, 2008
Spain will fund the purchase and installation of several hundred street lights in Antigua under a project called “Light Up Your Neighbourhood” street lights programme. Spain is the third foreign partner -along with the governments of Libya and Morocco - to have contributed to this important initiative.
April 16, 2008
Brazil's state-run oil company Petrobras is studying the possibility of oil exploitation in Cuba. The studies are based on a cooperation agreement signed with the Cuban Oil Company (CUPET) at the beginning of 2008. The study will look at areas in Cuban waters in the Gulf of Mexico.
April 16, 2008
Petrojam, Jamaica’s petroleum refinery, entered into an agreement with Brazilian firm, Coimex Trading, for the rehabilitation of its 40-million gallon ethanol production facility at Marcus Garvey Drive in Kingston back in 2004. The Brazilians, at the time, spent approximately three-quarters of the cost or some US$7.34 million on the project. As part of the agreement the 49 per cent stake that was held by the Brazilians would go back to the government after three years of operations.
The ethanol plant began operating in 2005 but has not been in production consistently since.
April 15, 2008
Barbadians recently experienced price increases in kerosene, diesel, liquified petroleum gas (LPG) and gasoline. As of April 16, Gasolene moved from $2.15 per litre to $2.67; diesel from $1.46 per litre to $2.57 and kerosene from $1.37 per litre to $1.51. LPG 100-pound cylinders moved from $144.75 to $188.15, the 25-pound cylinders increase from $38.76 to $49.63, while 20-pound cylinders goes from $31.01 to $39.70.
The public was promised measures to come to help manufacturers, farmers, fishermen, public transport operators and the poor cope with these price increases.
March 26, 2008
Belizeans experienced sharp increases in the prices of Gasoline, Kerosene and Diesel even though the Government has decided to absorb half of the increase in the cost of gasoline, and only pass on half to the consumers.
As of March 23, 2008, the new Price for Premium Gasoline is $9.95 per gallon while the new Price for Regular is $9.70. Kerosene increased by $1.18 per gallon, moving from $7.69 to $8.87 per gallon while Diesel will increase by $0.81 per gallon - from $8.10 to $8.91 per gallon.
March 26, 2008
Belize reflected sharp increases in the acquisition cost of gasoline, kerosene and diesel recently. In an effort to minimise the increase in pump prices, the government announced that it will absorb half of the increase in the cost of gasoline, and pass the other half on to consumers. Consequently, the new price for premium gasoline moved to $9.95 per gallon while the new price for regular moved up to $9.70.
March 22, 2008
Cuba provided expertise in the implementation of a Haitian energy saving program which recently ended.
The project, one of the programs of the Bolivarian Alternative for the Peoples of Our America, included visiting 93,572 houses, 63,000 work places, and installation of 2,863,910 energy-saving light bulbs.
Several other Caribbean countries have benefitted from this project.
March 21, 2008
A high-level roundtable involving Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Iceland in new partnerships for sustainable development in renewable energy, fisheries management and trade convenes took place in Barbados on March 25, 2008.
The three-day conference, promoted by Iceland’s Island Growth Initiative, launched a multi-year development cooperation partnership between Iceland and the Caribbean. It was be attended by government ministers and technocrats, the private sector, international agencies and university personnel. Expertise spanned climate change, geo-thermal and hydro energy development, use of marine resources and ocean governance and gender issues. A business and investment forum involving governments and the private sector was also convened.
Besides Barbados and Iceland, the other participating countries are Jamaica, Belize, Trinidad and Tobago, Cuba, St Kitts and Nevis, Dominica and St Lucia. Representatives attending included the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre, the Caribbean Renewable Energy Development Project and the World Bank.
March 19, 2008
Measures intended to shield the Dominican economy against the effects of high oil prices were introduced in the Dominica republic. Gasoline stations in the Dominican Republic were allowed to sell gas mixed with ethanol for the first time. In addition, the government has also finished the installation on the capital's main avenues of "intelligent traffic lights,'' which are designed to run on 10 percent (10%) of the energy normal traffic lights uses. The government also signed an agreement with sugar companies Central Romana and Grupo Vicini to build an ethanol plant at a cost of $500 million, capable of producing 50 million gallons yearly.
March 14, 2008
Industry and Commerce minister Melanio Paredes signed the agreement Thursday that will allow truck drivers and taxi drivers in the Dominican Republic to receive one million gallons of diesel fuel with a 32 peso government-subsidy, to assist them with ever-increasing fuel costs.
The subsidy on the one million gallons of diesel fuel will help compensate for their losses, as well as the rising costs of tyres, lubricants and spare parts.
The subsidised diesel fuel will now cost 102 pesos per gallon but hasn’t yet been distributed to them.
One of the other actions being considered by Paredes is to issue university students with electronic chip fare cards to be used on public transportation. He is also continuing to stress the further installation of equipment in vehicles to use natural gas and dual fuels.March 11, 2008
TOTAL Jamaica Limited recently signed an agreement for the purchase of Esso Standard Oil SA Limited’s entire fuel operations and marketing assets. The deal covers Esso’s complete motor fuels and aviation operations, which network of 37 service stations. The French company is now the second largest player in the market behind Cool Petroleum Limited, which owns the Cool Oasis and Shell Brands.
March 05, 2008
Industrial Gases Limited (IGL) and Tank-weld that will build, once approved by regulators, a Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) storage terminal at the metal fabricator's Rio Bueno port, from where it can receive the fuel commonly used for cooking from ships. EnviroPlanners Limited has been contracted by Industrial Gases Limited to do the EIA.
The project, involves the construction of a Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) importation and bulk storage terminal, including all the necessary pipelines and infrastructure that will facilitate the receipt of LPG from ships and the loading and delivery of LPG in bulk and cylinders, according to the TOR. As part of the rationale for building the terminal was the need to reduce transport of LPG from Kingston to the northern and western regions of the island, consequently reducing the exposure to the risks associated with the transportation of LPG by road. The plant will receive LPG from ships, via pipeline, which will carry the gas to a tank farm consisting of 14, 90,000-gallon storage tanks - 1.26 million gallons in all - for the storage of liquid propane and butane, collectively known as LPG or cooking gas.
The facility is to be located on 4.7 acres of land owned by Tank-weld.
February 26, 2008
In the matter of PETROCARIBE, the Prime Ministers while reaffirming the commonality of their position, expressed understanding for the immediate economic benefits derived from PETROCARIBE as well as concern over the long-term debt implications for participating CARICOM states. Prime Minister Manning also noted the implications which subscription to PETROCARIBE would have had for the support given to Trinidad and Tobago's FTAA Headquarters bid by CARICOM and the steps taken by Trinidad and Tobago to facilitate importation of Venezuelan petroleum by those countries. The same commonality of position applied in respect of ALBA (the Bolivarian Alternative for Latin America) and support for the FTAA. Prime Minister Manning apprised Prime Minister Thompson of developments regarding the Eastern Caribbean Gas Pipeline project. There was mutual agreement on the advisability of pursuing this as a strictly commercial undertaking.
February 14, 2008
Dutch storage company Vopak has agreed with private equity firm First Reserve Corporation to set up a joint venture to operate an oil terminal in the Bahamas.
First Reserve is to buy the Freeport oil terminal, which has a capacity of more than 3 million cubic metres, from Petroleos de Venezuela S.A., and Vopak will buy a 20 percent stake and act as operator. The deal is expected to close in the second quarter, subject to approval from the government of the Bahamas. It is understood that the terminal's capacity could increase up to 5 million cubic metres for storage of crude oil, bunker fuel oil and various other petroleum products.
February 13, 2008
Venezuela's state-run oil company PDVSA has agreed to sell its BORCO crude oil and refined products terminal in the Bahamas to private equity firm First Reserve. BORCO is a 20 million-barrel storage terminal in Freeport, Bahamas, about 80 miles east of the Florida coast. PDVSA bought the facility, the largest in the Caribbean, in 1990 from Chevron Corp.February 08, 2008
Trinidad and Tobago is conducting a preliminary examination of the issue in relation to expenditure in other areas of the confirmed review but said it was at preliminary phase. Trinidad is an oil producer, but it also imports crude mainly from Venezuela, and is therefore exposed to volatile world prices. Motorists in Trinidad and Tobago currently pay US$0.50 per litre for gasoline at the pumps compared to drivers in nearby Barbados who pay US$1.35 per litre, and about US$0.90 for Jamaicans. Trinidad does not plan to completely remove the subsidy, but is examining the degree of the cut reducing it to offset increased government spending on oil imports.
Heavily subsidised
All petroleum products in Trinidad and Tobago are heavily subsidised as a deliberate policy of the government since 1974 with the passing of the Petroleum Production Levy and Subsidy Act. The legislation sets up a mechanism for the collection of a levy from oil producing companies and the payment of a subsidy to wholesaler National Petroleum (NP), a state operated company, to compensate for selling products to consumers at the fixed retail prices.
The subsidy is also tax deductible for oil producing companies, so government also incurs additional opportunity cost in revenues foregone.
February 03, 2008
Mitsubishi Lancer to reveal Prototype S Sportback Model
Audi to run its first biodiesel race car. This year's edition of the Audi R10 Le Mans car will be powered not only by diesel, but also by biomass-to-liquid, a second-generation fuel that is produced from straw, useless pieces of wood, compost and other aspects of biomass. The previous fuel used in the Audi R10 was also a (synthetic fuel), the GTL (gas-to-liquid) diesel that did not come from a renewable source, but from natural gas.February 02, 2008
Government's efforts to maintain an enabling environment to attract more investments have gained the interest of the world’s largest private sector firms; General Electric (GE) of the United States of America which is exploring the possibility of investing in Guyana. A team from the company that was in Guyana recently met several government agencies in the areas of energy, water, agro-processing and mining among others. "We are very happy that a team has visited Guyana to explore business and investment opportunities," Da Silva said.
The company also held meetings with Go-Invest, the Office of the Prime Minister, Guyana Power and Light Company, Rusal Bauxite Company, CGX of Canada, the Guyana Rice Development Board, Banks DIH, Demerara Distillers Limited and the Guyana Sugar Corporation. It is hoped that if the company invests in Guyana there will be substantial, replacement and upgrading of the entire infrastructure in the energy and water sectors."The latest technology and methods that would make it efficient, effective and when we say efficient, we mean cost-efficient as well to run those sectors. So GE's biggest contribution will be in terms of technology innovation Government is optimistic that before year-end an agreement will be signed. GE has an annual sales turnover of US $173B a year.
January 30, 2008
LNG to diversify energy needs
Jamaica is to diversify its energy arrangements by committing to establishing LNG facilities. All the negotiations that are going to be required to put all of that in place can now proceed, without any ambiguity as to the direction in which the Government is going." Discussions have started on securing long-term supply contracts for LNG. Jamaica Public Service Limited (JPS) has some gas turbines, some of them over 30 years old, which need to be taken out of service. So the LNG facilities will replace some of the inefficient capacity that the JPS now has, and provide the additional capacity that will be needed to meet the growing demand for electricity as well as to provide power for the Jamalco expansion.January 25, 2008
Antigua and Barbuda conclude discussions with Venezuela, on a number of development projects. Among the issues to be discussed with the Venezuelan authorities are the approval of a major water-infrastructure project, which will include a reverse osmosis plant, storage system replacement of pipes, cooperation in alternative sources of energy and a housing development project.January 23, 2008
Another wait for ethanol at the pumps
he Government of Jamaica is to announce a fixed date later this year for the introduction of E10 gasolene - made with 10 per cent ethanol as the fuel additive following its successful pilot having been completed in October 2006, E10, which will replace imported MTBE as the fuel additive and it is hoped to significantly reduce the national oil import bill.
January 15, 2008
New gas discovery offshore Trinidad and Tobago
Canadian Superior Energy Inc. and Challenger Energy Corp. soared after the Calgary-based explorers reported a natural-gas discovery off the Caribbean island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. Canadian Superior, Challenger Energy and BG Group Plc, the UK's third-biggest oil and gas company, made the discovery in Intrepid Block 5(c), located about 60 miles off the east coast of Trinidad. "The Victory well has an estimated flowing rate of over" 100 million standard cubic feet of gas a day and "is condensate rich."
January 11, 2008
Energy expansion needed in T&T - Manning
Trinidad and Tobago cannot reach developed country status by 2020 if its energy sector-dependent economy is not properly diversified, says Prime Minister Patrick Manning. He spoke on the issue while delivering the keynote address at the Sixth Annual Caribbean MBA Conference held at the Hilton Trinidad Hotel, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad. The conference was organised by the Harvard Business School's Caribbean Business Club and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania's Caribbean Business INitiative Club. its theme is "Regional and Economic Diversification: Expanding our share of the global economy."January 08, 2008
Power still a priority in Dominican Republic
The vice president of the Dominican State Electrical Corporation explained that the high price of oil is having a devastating impact in the price of electricity and praised Fernandez in trying to obtain over US$100 million in loans in an effort to keep the energy bills stable. The price per kilowatt hour is expected to rise around three cents on the dollar as the country still struggles to find alternative sources of power. The Electricity company is continuing to meet with the major power producing companies in an effort to renegotiate government contracts with them made by the previous administration.January 02, 2008
French company to build Trinidad's offshore pipelines
Technip USA, a unit of French oil services group Technip, has been awarded a contract by Trinidad and Tobago's state-owned National Gas Company (NGC) to build two new offshore pipelines, one of which will terminate in Tobago. Technip will provide engineering and design services and construction management for the pipelines which are expected to be completed by the end of 2009.
The North Eastern Offshore (NEO) Pipeline will originate from BHP Billiton's facility in Block 2(c) off the north-east coast of Trinidad and connect into NGC's existing pipeline network to the south. The line will provide transportation for new gas supplies from BHP Billiton and EOG Resources Trinidad Limited and will be sized for additional capacity from other suppliers of gas operating off the north-east coast. The second pipeline is proposed to run to Cove Estate on the smaller island of Tobago. It will also originate from the BHP Billiton facility and constructed in a northerly direction, terminating at Cove Estate on Tobago's south coast. The Pipeline to Cove Estate, Tobago is expected to be approximately 33 miles in length with a diameter of 10 inches costing US$72 million.
Gas distribution system
Directional drilling technology will be used on the approach to the Tobago coast because it allows for installation under all near-shore and shore structures, avoiding environmental damage to reefs, rock formations and beach landing. The gas will provide fuel for the state-owned Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission's (T&TEC) Power Generation Plant being built at Cove Estate, in addition to supplying gas to all light industry on the estate via a gas distribution system. T&TEC is building a 50-60 megawatt generating plant at a cost of US$76 million. It is anticipated that this new pipeline will provide transportation capacity for third parties such as the Eastern Caribbean Gas Pipeline Company for the supply of gas to Barbados via Tobago. However, NGC will only be responsible for the transportation of gas to Tobago. Earlier this year, NGC signed an agreement with BHP Billiton Trinidad and Tobago (BHP) Consortium for the supply of an average of 220 million standard cubic feet per day (MMscf/d) of gas for approximately 11 years. The gas will be supplied from Offshore Block 2(c), where the joint venture comprising BHP Billiton/Talisman/TotalFinaElf discovered the Greater Angostura oil and natural gas field in 1999.
First phase
In February 2003, following the completion of an appraisal drilling programme in 2002, BHP Billiton committed US$327 million to the development of the first phase of the Angostura integrated oil and gas development of the estimated gross of US$726 million. Liquid hydrocarbons have been produced from this field since January 2005. The state gas company signed a similar agreement with EOG Resources Trinidad for the supply of 110 MMscf/d of gas for a period of 15 years commencing no later than 2010. The gas will be supplied from EOG's Offshore Block 4(a) or the Toucan natural gas field, via the new pipeline system. NGC's transmission and distribution of gas is accomplished through its 446 mile (719 km) network of pipelines. NGC's current system capacity is about 4.0 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) and with the completion of the Beachfield Upstream Development (BUD) pipeline in the fourth quarter of this year, the capacity would be increased to 4.6 Bcf/d. The distribution system comprises a mix of 4-inch, 6-inch and 16-inch pipelines that deliver gas supplies to NGC's large industrial customers in the Port Lisas industrial estate and to over 100 light industrial and commercial customers throughout Trinidad.
Copyright CEIS 2007
