By Kimberly Ramkhalawan
January 28, 2022
The Energy Chamber of Trinidad and Tobago’s annual conference kicked off this week, this time with a twist, putting its Green Energy Conference up in January as opposed to May.
In years gone by, the Energy Chamber held its International Energy Conference in January, a large B2B exhibition with oil and gas companies on display engaged in plenary sessions on the evolving sector globally.
But due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they saw it fit to switch the order of things up a bit, with hopes of having its signature conference later this year and instead opening the Caribbean Sustainable Energy conference.
Putting the event into perspective, president and CEO of the Energy Chamber, Thakwray Driver, in welcoming delegates to the virtual event explained the reasoning behind the rebranding, with a focus on getting the region’s oil and gas industry to be sustainable. With nations still taking into consideration discussions at COP 26 in Glasgow, Scotland last November, many industries are taking to heart the dire need to do their part in decarbonization and bringing their emissions to net zero, the goals outlined at COP. Climate action requires pathways to a restructuring exercise and not just converting renewable energy into the electricity grid but the wholesale restructuring of energy systems in its entirety within industrial frameworks.
In giving the keynote address via Zoom, President of Guyana Irfaan Ali, raised questions to the oil and gas heads on how it intended to become net zero while not compromising its profits. He inquired about their value systems and price tags it placed on ecosystems such as the Amazon rainforest, and if it was worth more dead or alive to companies in the face of global warming. Ali, says the effects of climate change is clear as day in the Caribbean, with land erosion to its coast due to rising sea levels.
BPTT CEO Clare Fitzpatrick added that in the last twelve months much has changed in the need to ramp up works mitigating the effects of climate change, something she said could not be done fast enough. She noted that works were being done to hold more companies accountable for poor actions against the environment with charges being laid. Fitzpatrick noted that it was companies like her that were working with others to assist in meeting these goals regionally and within its operational states.
Meanwhile, Trinidad and Tobago’s Energy Minister, Stuart Young called for his regional counterparts to get the Caribbean Development Bank to stand with them in getting the support needed from foreign entities in assisting the region in reaching decarbonization goals. He says there were strength in numbers and with the bank representing the region, he believed getting the financial resources to assist small island developing states in their fight against climate change, and retooling its energy sector could be done at a much faster rate.
Minister Young outlined some of the plans Trinidad and Tobago had for utilizing solar power in the energy sector, outlining solar projects in the Gulf of Paria, as well as the use of some quarries for other solar projects.
Trinidad and Tobago is currently one of the countries Lightsource BP has established for solar parks. Titled Project Lara, the minister noted that while “embarrassed to say that did not meet my target for the month of January to be able to sign off on Project Lara with Lighthouse BP”, he was “intending and I will guarantee today (Monday) to have the agreement finalised, settled and signed and executed before the end of February”.
Lightsource BP CEO Nick Boyle, one of the main sponsor’s the of the Caribbean Sustainable Energy Conference, says he was happy to hear the Project Lara would soon be finalized. The projects will look at two solar power farms on the island. Lightsource BP is a consortium comprised of BP Alternative Energy Trinidad and Tobago and Shell Trinidad and Tobago.
This year, the Caribbean Sustainable Energy Conference saw over 60 presenters and 400 participants registered for the plenary sessions.