Trinidad and Tobago bursting with opportunity

May 6, 2003
The government of Trinidad and Tobago is taking steps to ensure that profits generated by the bourgeoning energy industry are invested in raising the standard of living. According to Eric A. Williams, minister of energy and energy industries, the country is actively looking for outside interest. "We cannot do it alone," Williams told a group of attendees at the Offshore Technology Conference in Houston May 6.

The government of Trinidad and Tobago is taking steps to ensure that profits generated by the bourgeoning energy industry are invested in raising the standard of living. According to Eric A. Williams, minister of energy and energy industries, the country is actively looking for outside interest. "We cannot do it alone," Williams told a group of attendees at the Offshore Technology Conference in Houston May 6.

Trinidad and Tobago wants to grow production, Williams said. The country's other objectives include the need to invest in human capital and to deepen and broaden the country's presence in the energy marketplace. Another goal is sustainable development that will bring continued growth to the country. A significant element of this sustainable development is LNG exportation.

John M. Duty, senior vice president of Bechtel Corp., agreed that LNG will be a cornerstone of Trinidad's energy program. The need for LNG is great and is expected to double in the next seven years. LNG imports to the US from Trinidad are only limited by the number of import terminals, Duty said.

Bechtel completed its first LNG train in Trinidad in March 1999. The third train was completed in April 2003, and engineering is already underway on train number four.

"Our years in Trinidad and Tobago have been very good," Duty said. "We hope to continue to work there for a long time."

05/06/03