00:00Nutrien confirmed to TV6 News that it has safely shut down its nitrogen operations in Trinidad and Tobago.
00:07Nutrien had announced on Tuesday, October 21st, that it had commenced a controlled shutdown of its Trinidad nitrogen operations at the Point Lisa's facility, effective Thursday, October 23rd.
00:20Nutrien told TV6 News on Thursday, quote,
00:22We remain committed to constructive engagement with stakeholders. However, we have not reached a solution that would allow us to restart operations under viable economic conditions.
00:33These challenges include $28 million in unilateral and retroactive port access fees, as well as the absence of a reliable and economically sustainable neutral gas supply, end quote.
00:46Nutrien added that it expects to remain within its 2025 nitrogen sales volume guidance, supported by reliable production from its North American facilities.
00:58The Express newspaper has reported that the chairman of the state-owned national gas company, Gerald Ramdeen, said on Wednesday night that Nutrien had been granted permission to continue using the ports at Point Lisa's through to the end of the year at the same fees as before.
01:15In a statement to the media on Tuesday, Energy Minister Dr. Rudal Munilad said the government is meeting with the various entities and users of port facilities under NEC's purview to address what he said the former PNM administration failed to do,
01:30which is to regularize and update contractual arrangements surrounding the use of the port and related matters.
01:37Opposition MP and former Energy Minister Stuart Young said in a statement on Facebook on Thursday, quote,
01:43Unfortunately, the mismanagement of the energy sector under Point Lisa's estate is having serious negative effects on Trinidad and Tobago's global and domestic standing, end quote.
01:54MP Young further said, quote,
01:55The impasse between NEC and Nutrien has not been resolved and this is now having a knock-on effect on the provision of CO2, carbon dioxide, to manufacturers and other users in Trinidad and Tobago and the region.
02:09This would affect, for example, the manufacturing of carbonated beverages, which is a major export product for Trinidad and Tobago, end quote.
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