PORT-OF-SPAIN (Trinidad Guardian):
BY THE end of the year, the Trinidad and Tobago Govern-ment will implement a new gas-use policy that will clearly define what percentage of natural gas will be used for export and what will be channelled into the domestic sector.
Energy Minister Dr Lenny Saith said the new policy will decide on how much gas will be converted to liquefied natural gas (LNG) with the rest being kept for local industries including petrochemicals, metals, iron and steel and electricity generation.
The minister said already some semblance of the policy is in place but that the idea is to streamline it and ensure all the gas producers are clear on what gas will be allowed for LNG and what will have to go to domestic use.
"The thinking is that we will in the future allocate new gas in different ways with some going for export and some for domestic use. I believe that this policy will be in place before the end of the year and it will be done in such a way that all the producers are clear on what we are doing," said Saith.
Questioned about the fact that it was only obvious that the producers will expect to get the highest price for their gas, which would almost certainly push them to LNG, Saith said it did not matter since they will be forced to operate within the new guidelines.
