Enill: Smelter will be built
PORT SPAIN
Trinidad Guardian
Petroleumworldtt.com
06 17 09
Despite the court ruling to quash the certificate of cearance (CC) granted by the Environmental Management Authority (EMA), the million-dollar Alutrint aluminium smelter plant will be constructed, said Energy Minister Conrad Enill.
Enill made this statement in the Senate yesterday, moments after learning that the High Court squashed the granting of the certificate of environmental clearance by the Environmental Management Authority (EMA). Enill said that while the Government was willing to abide with the court ruling, it has intentions to re-visit the issue. Admitting that he was shocked by the judgment, Enill said, government never expects in circumstances where agencies do work, it would have any impact but positive.
“As far as I am concerned, the CEC process is one the EMA has authority over. I would like to understand what are the issues. When we took the decision on the basis of health and safety issues, there were no challenges. If there is an issue now, if we have to, we would look at and if we have to re-apply so do,” Enill said. Insisting that the smelter plant will be constructed, Enill said Government took a view to build the plant on the basis that it was a project that made sense.
Enill said: “I do not know what the judgement is stating. Whatever it does, we will abide; we are a law-abiding Government. That decision we took, it is our intention and we will re-visit it. It was our view to bring the smelter forward and the process is still very much the one we have to take.” The estimated cost of the project is $400 million. The first phase, Enill said, is expected to cost between $30 and $40 million. Enill said consultations to deal with issues showed that the smelter plant did not pose a threat to health.
“Government went through the process and held consultations to deal with issues, and at the end of that, no health issues were not interfering with the smelter. At the end of that, we came to conclusion. We subjected government process to the EMA, which dealt with all other procedural matters. The EMA approved the CEC. If what is being said now is that there is some issue with the CEC, we will accept, but ensure that the project is built,”Enill said. Enill said he was not sure whether the ruling will have an impact on construction of the plant.
“The site is at its preliminary stages. I am not sure I have to look and make a decision on what was said.” He referred to the ruling as part of the country's democracy. “There are those who say democracy do not work; it is working. If people feel their rights are not being dealt being dealt with in a particular way, they have recourse. Democracy is working.”
Anika Gumbs-Sandiford
Story by Anika Gumbs-Sandiford from Trinidad Guardian
Trinidad Guardian
June 17 2009
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