Trinidad and Tobago: PM Keith Rowley opens 2023 Energy Conference and Trade Show

Trinidad and Tobago: Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley officially opened the 2023 Energy Conference and Trade Show hosted by the Energy Chamber of Trinidad and Tobago at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad in Port of Spain on Monday, January 23, 2023. Prime Minister Rowley delivered the Keynote Address at the conference under the theme “Navigating a Complex Energy Future”. The 2023 Energy Conference and Trade Show will continue until January 25, 2023.

The event was attended by the Guyana President, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali. President Ali was given a tour of the Trinidad and Tobago Energy Conference 2023 Expo at the Hyatt Regency on Monday. Earlier in the day, the President delivered the address at the opening ceremony of the conference.

Dr Irfaan Ali said that the oil and gas sector transcends the industry and impacts not only workers but consumers throughout the world. The Head of State, who delivered remarks at Trinidad and Tobago’s Energy Conference 2023 at the Hyatt Regency, spoke about the importance of facts and reality regarding the industry and about “a policy agenda” driven by a few countries.

He said that the unwillingness to lend to companies related to oil and gas “increases the cost of capital and makes capital less available to investors”, which in turn puts a burden on consumers. This unfair practice, the President stated, must be addressed by strong statements from both the industry and government leaders.

President Ali also spoke extensively on the Caribbean’s energy plan and its impact at the global level.

The President of Guyana is on an official trip to the twin-island country of Trinidad and Tobago, where PM Keith Rowley and other senior ministries greeted him. During this visit, the Energy minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Stuart Young, proposed a Caribbean energy alliance, contributing towards the reshaping of the energy security in the region.

The alliance was proposed to the two neighbouring countries – Suriname and Guyana. Young was quoted saying that the alliance could assist in bringing oil and gas resources from Guyana, Venezuela, and Suriname to Trinidad for processing and export.