Thursday, November 24, 2011

T&T to expand energy links with Brazil through Petrobas

Trinidad & Tobago is expanding trade links with Brazil through that country's energy giant, Petrobras.

Officials from Brazil's state-controlled oil giant met in Port of Spain for two days to explore business opportunities.

The meetings included the Ministries of Energy, Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Communications. Technical teams from Petrotrin, Lake Asphalt, Phoenix Park Gas Processors Ltd, National Petroleum (NP) and National Gas (NGC) also took part in the discussions.

The initial discussions that led to the meetings were held during Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar's trip to Brazil in May at the head of a delegation that included government officials and private sector business leaders.

On Wednesday afternoon, Persad-Bissessar provided the media with an insight into the talks held over the pas two days.

She said Petrobas is interested in a joint venture to market Trinidad Lake Asphalt in the regions where Petrobras refineries are located.

She added, "I am advised that the Ministry of Energy and Lake Asphalt of Trinidad and Tobago, in conjunction with the relevant stakeholders, are pursuing the establishment of an Asphalt Research Institute.

"In this regard, there is an opportunity for the exchange of technology with Petrobras as they possess core competencies to derive the greatest economic benefit from asphalt products."

Persad-Bissessasr said many South American nations are converting their power plants to utilise natural gas, which is more environmentally friendly and more cost effective than gasoline and diesel fuel.

"Petrobras has identified this as a growth opportunity to establish re-gasification terminals to supply these plants and is very interested in partnering with Trinidad and Tobago to develop these markets," she said.

Persad-Bissesssar also stated that Petrotrin will host a three-day workshop in Trinidad and Tobago on the exploitation of heavy oil as well as deep seismic exploration. Petrobras will play a major role in that project by sharing its technical expertise and knowledge.

Petrobras has its own University for oil and gas training and development. The Prime Minister said a joint team from the enegy minister and the tertiary education ministe will go to Brazil in the first quarter of 2012 to explore opportunities for cooperation with Petrobas University and the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) and the University of the West Indies (UWI).

Ronald Bodolay, President of Petrobras-Mexico and President of Business Development of Petrobras-Latin America, said he is pleased to see the high level of enthusiasm from the local energy sector.

"I can see, and I saw here, a lot of improvement and people focused on targets to develop the country...we came here just to identify points and the issues that we can develop the market and improve the synergies in both countries."

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Jai & Sero

Jai & Sero

Our family at home in Toronto 2008

Our family at home in Toronto 2008
Amit, Heather, Fuzz, Aj, Jiv, Shiva, Rampa, Sero, Jai