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BY
RADHICA SOOKRAJ
Government is encouraging downstream gas-related industries
but is facing a shortage of skilled labour.
This was revealed yesterday by David Small, director of
performance and management in the Ministry of Energy. He
delivered the feature address on behalf of Energy Minister
Conrad Enill at the official launch of an exposition by
the Instrumentation System and Automation Society (ISA)
at Paria Suites Hotel, La Romaine.
Small said that as part of Vision 2020, Government was moving
away from economic dependence on the oil and gas sector.
He said that T&T’s economy remains strong with
growth projected at 5.2 per cent for 2008.
However, he said that instead of exporting raw materials
such as methanol and ethylene, Government was creating new
downstream industries. He added that several projects such
as the Essar Steel mill, the Alutrint aluminum smelter and
the Westlake Ethylene industry will assist in this diversification
drive.
Small said, “The capital expenditure of these projects
is US$9 billion.” He said the projects will create
over 3,600 permanent jobs.
But he said that there is a shortage of skilled labour to
facilitate these projects. “Right now the Ministry
is working on a policy to deal with this problem. We need
to improve the physical capacity to achieve these endeavours
and this is what we are working on at this moment.”
He added that Government recognised the need to protect
the environment. Praising the Environmental Management Authority,
Small said that all companies which invest in T&T must
stick to the strictest environmental standards.
President of ISA, Keone Jackman, said the three-day expo
will feature control and applicator process equipment needed
for the energy field.
Several companies in the energy sector are showing their
products.
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