PETROCHEMICALS

In addition to offering a highly favorable investment climate for foreign companies - including low energy costs, one of the world's most successful energy industries, an educated workforce, a stable and growing economy, and economic incentives, among others - Trinidad and Tobago offers significant opportunities for chemical manufacturing companies across the following sectors (including but not limited to):

• Adhesives
• Asphalt products
• Cosmetics
• Feedstock chemicals
• Industrial chemicals
• Industrial gases
• Paints
• Petrochemicals
• Pharmaceuticals
• Plastics

Investment opportunities are abound in Trinidad and Tobago for upstream, midstream and downstream chemical manufacturing. A well-defined, mature, and already thriving industry with 116 active plants will facilitate development of future industries. A strong infrastructure, connected utility and fuel lines, and a well-trained and trainable workforce support new business opportunities for this industry.

Advantages

Proven precedent of success: In addition to being one of the world's top energy producers, we are the top worldwide manufacturer of methanol, with 18.5% of global production. We also have plans to expand by opening two new plants that are expected to produce 2.5 million tons more per year.

Existing infrastructure: Three heavy industrial sites at Point Lisas, Pointe-a-Pierre and Point Fortin geared towards the manufacture of primary chemicals and petroleum products; other light manufacturing industrial sites are located across the country in cities such as Macoya, Diamond Vale and O'Meara.

Government incentives: Economic and other incentives for companies that deal in new technologies, large employment numbers and capital-intensive ventures.

Numerous preferential trade agreements with regions all over the world, including the US, EU, CARICOM, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Colombia, and Canada.

Unique vertical manufacturing opportunity with our Plastics, Printing and Packaging (PPP) Cluster, comprising 330 companies that have come together to benefit from better contracts for importation and exportation, larger manufacturing output and lower production costs.

In addition, the government intends to further intends to enhance the sector through:

• The building of the Essar Steel Complex - this involves the establishment of an integrated steel complex producing flat hot rolled coil, as well as hot briquette iron and slabs.
• Methanol/Propylene/Polypropylene (MTP) - discussions on project details ongoing between Lurgi and the Government.
• A joint venture between BASF and Shell, proposing a 160,000 tonne per annum plant at a capital cost of TT$9.5 billion
• A Methanol Holdings’ AUM Complex with a proposed plant capacity of 1.5 million tonnes per annum of Urea Ammonium Nitrate and 60,000 tonnes per annum of Melamine. The capital cost is TT$10.1 Billion
• A World GTL Trinidad Limited (WGTL-TL) Gas-to-Liquid plant which is a joint venture between World GTL Inc. (New York) and the Petroleum Company of Trinidad and Tobago Ltd. (Petrotrin). World GTL-Trinidad Limited will own and operate the 2,250 bpd plant
• An Alutrint Smelter Complex (the capital cost is TT$1.65 Billion) which will produce 125,000 metric tonnes per annum, which will be used for downstream industries.

ALUMINIUM SMELTER PROJECTS

An Agreement in Principle to construct an aluminium smelter was prepared by Alcoa. In November 2005,  agreed to conduct feasibility studies to explore the establishment of the facility at Chatham/Cap De Ville. A decision in principle to relocate the proposed site of the plant has delayed this project.

Government agreed in principle to the development of a 125,000 metric tonne per annum Aluminium Transformation Facility. Part of this Facility will reside in Union Estate, La Brea, as an Integrated Aluminium Complex. The remainder of the Facility will comprise additional downstream industries which will be located in the Tamana InTech Park.

There are plans to establish an Energy Park of 250 acres in San Fernando. Office complexes for NGC, Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries and other energy services companies will be established in this “San Fernando Ener-Tech Park”

For more information, visit Trinidad & Tobago's Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries webpage on the Downstream Sector.