Peninsula
of industrial dreams
By Carolyn Kissoon and Louis Homer
Trinidad Express
Port
Spain
Petroleumworldtt.com
05 20 07
Fast rising industrial estates along the southwestern
peninsula have boosted the economy, but they also
have transformed the landscape and lifestyles of
the people living in those communities.
Almost a decade ago some 84 hectares of land were
reclaimed at Point Fortin to make way for one of
the largest liquefied natural gas plants in the
world. Multinational oil and gas companies, including
BP Trinidad, BG Trinidad and Repsol moved in to
take advantage of the opportunities the new plant
offered.
The billion-dollar Atlantic LNG plant has been
a runaway success, accounting for much of the US's
natural gas imports.
Residents living in close proximity to the plant
were against its construction from the beginning.
They complained that it would take away their beaches
and change their way of living. But their greatest
concern was that industrialisation would not contribute
to improving their standard of living.
Not far away, at La Brea, another industrial site
was developed. Residents were again affected but
they quickly adjusted to the changes.
Residents of Lowlands, Point Fortin, the nearest
village to the ALNG plant staged protests and begged
the Government to stop construction. They argued
that the dust was affecting their health and the
noise was unbearable. Rashes broke out on the bodies
of several residents and some threatened to sue
the plant's owners.
But the promise of industrialisation was realised
and by 2005 there were four Trains or liquefaction
units at the site.
ALNG management argued that Trinidad and Tobago's
economy was based largely on sugar exports and
the energy industry would contribute more than
one quarter of the country's Gross Domestic Product.
The company has made remarkable strides since
the beginning of commercial operations on March
13, 1999. The facility was the first to operate
in the Atlantic basin and the second in the western
hemisphere.
The site is laid out over reclaimed land and ALNG
has its own 700 -metre jetty which can accommodate
LNG carriers of up to 135,000 cubic metres in size.
The plant is designed to receive 452 million standard
cubic feet of gas a day.
There is no doubt the energy industry did pump
revenue into the economy, but people living closest
to the sites said they were unable to secure jobs
in the sector.
To make way for a buffer zone, several families
were relocated to Warden Road, Point Fortin. They
were provided with houses and compensated for their
losses. Many protested the move and vowed not to
leave their homes. But the residents eventually
acceded to their request and agreed to move.
Jason
Mohammed, a resident, said youths in the area
were not offered jobs as promised. "When
the company was negotiating with us they said youths
would be offered jobs, but only outsiders are working
at ALNG. When they go for interviews the company
is saying they don't meet the requirements. This
is not fair to us," he said.
More than 600 workers have been employed at the
plant. However, company officials could not say
what percentage of the workforce came from the
Point Fortin area.
Though the proposed Alcoa aluminum smelter in
nearby Chatham is now seemingly on hold, there
are still a number of service companies, along
with other businesses, sprouting up in the town.
As Leo Bradshaw, an executive member of the Point
Fortin Chamber of Commerce, noted, the plants in
the area have created a number of jobs, both in
construction and post construction.
"The companies have extended their social
programmes to the people of Point Fortin and surrounding
areas," Bradshaw said.
He said the spin off from the people employed
in the industries adds significantly to the economic
well being of Point Fortin.
Bradshaw said there was a plan by ALNG to carry
out major beach improvements which will auger well
for the tourist industry.
At La Brea a 400-acre site, has been a beehive
of activity since its establishment five years
ago. It is LABIDCO (La Brea Industrial Development
Company of Trinidad and Tobago).
With 19 service companies now operating at the
estate, any further development in the area would
have to be shifted to the nearby Union Industrial
Estate where another proposed aluminium smelter,
Alutrint, and other chemical plants are to be located.
Some 40 kilometres of 56-inch pipelines for the
proposed cross-country gas line were off-loaded
and stored at the estate.
One of the highlights of LABIDCO's success has
been the construction of offshore oil well platforms
by Trinidad Offshore Fabricators Company (TOFCO).
Thus far they have constructed five platforms.
This industry has added significantly to the concept
of local content which is the new trend in the
energy sector.
The exact investment at LABIDCO could not be ascertained,
but the billion-dollar enterprise continues to
grow and has provided a myriad opportunities for
contractors in the service industry.
But unlike Point Fortin, where residents complained
of not getting employment, people living in La
Brea said they have been able to get work on the
projects. An official at LABIDCO said every contractor
that comes on the estate is asked to use as many
residents as he can in his project.
Right now there are about 350 employees on the
estate from the surrounding villages, it was learned.
Industrialisation along the southwestern peninsula
is far from complete. Rather it seems to have just
started.
And in some ways eliciting opposite responses
from the people in the midst of it all.
In Point Fortin, while a number of residents have
joined anti-smelter activists as the majority of
villagers in La Brea appear to have given the Alutrint
project their backing. The Point Fortin activists
have formed the Chatham/Cap-de-ville Environmental
Protection Group to protest the move.
At La Brea, residents said they were looking forward
to industrialisation and expected an improved standard
of living within their community with the coming
of the new plant and have formed a pro-smelter
group.
Villagers in Vessigny, Union and Sobo in La Brea
said they would welcome any improvements to their
community. Alutrint has been hosting frequent meetings
with residents at the community centre.
Residents said they believed jobs would be made
available to them during the construction phase.
And as happened elsewhere, it will trigger a rash
of other projects and thriving service sectors.
The hope is that the dreams do not become nightmares
Trinidad
Express
Wednesday, May 16th 2007
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©2007 Trinidad Express. All Rights Reserved.
