09-01-09 Several companies are moving ahead with plans to develop projects in the energy industry in Trinidad, despite the slowdown worldwide in the sector in recent months. Among the companies on stream with planned operations are Alutrint, Voyager Energy and Tullow Oil company.
Philip Julien, chief executive officer of Alutrint, which is putting up an aluminum smelter in La Brea, told: "Our smelter project is on stream and we expect by the end of February to begin soil compaction on the site, after which piling will begin."

He said the company had received work permits for 50 highly skilled Chinese workers who are expected to arrive in February.
As far as the relocation of families in Union Estate, where the smelter is to be built, were concerned, Julien said that was moving ahead. He said there were "a few families" living in the proposed buffer zone and they were being relocated to other areas.

In the upstream sector, two companies are pushing ahead with their offshore exploration operations. Tullow Oil, an international company based in Ireland, will shortly begin its $ 150 mm drilling operations off the north coast of Trinidad.
A senior official of the company said: "We have recently signed two other contracts and 3D seismic surveys will start in the first quarter of this year [2009]."

Voyager Energy recently signed a contract with state-owned energy company, Petrotrin, and Petro Andina and is moving ahead with its aerogravity and aeromagnetic surveys. An official of the company said: "We have an agreement with Government and we are legally obligated to follow the terms of the agreement."
Voyager, an affiliate of Voyager Energy (Trinidad), had secured a contract to explore for oil and gas in the central block of Trinidad covering 73,358 hectares and a deep water block below 4,500 feet covering 85,584 hectares.

Julien said Alutrint was working with the Ministry of Labour to establish a one-stop shop at La Brea, where workers will be interviewed for employment. He said atthe peak of construction, some 1,000 workers would be employed.
Julien said "most of the major start-up construction will be carried out by CEMEX of China".

The plant at Union Estate, La Brea, is 60 % owned by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago with the other 40 % owned by the Sural Group of Venezuela.
Julien said, "Alutrint proposes to complete construction of its 125,000 tons aluminium smelter plant by the middle of 2010, with September as the date targeted for production." The project is financed with a loan from the China Exim Bank.