-The Trinidad and Tobago government is exploring the possibility of regional and international partners being involved in the re-start of the state-owned oil refinery that was shut down in 2018 when the former government said the cost of upgrading the refinery would have loaded the company with an unsustainable debt burden estimated at TT$12 billion (One TT dollar=US$0.16 cents) of which TT$5.780 billion is due in August 2019.
Energy and Energy Industries Minister Dr. Roodal Moonilal said the Kamla-Persad Bissessar administration is given serious consideration to the ‘Interim Report of the Refinery Restart Committee’ led by former energy minister Kevin Ramnarine, earlier this month.
‘I can indicate that quite recently I’ve had some dialogue as well with the Minister of Energy of Suriname Mr. Patrick Brunings, and that was a matter discussed as well because, as you know, they operate a smaller refinery in Suriname, and so we’re in discussions with Suriname. We have ongoing contact with Guyana,’ he said.