The National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (NGC) continues to explore and support value-added opportunities in fulfilment of its strategy of being an integrated and diversified energy company operating in all segments of the Trinidad and Tobago energy value chain.
To support this direction, an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract for the supply of natural gas pipeline infrastructure for e TecK’s Factory Road Industrial Park (FRIP), was signed recently with FRIP’s owner and landlord, Evolving TecKnologies and Enterprise Development Company Limited (e TecK). Leveraging NGC’s technical capability and experience with pipeline infrastructure, NGC will design, procure and construct natural gas-related infrastructure and ultimately supply gas, to fuel the operations of future tenants at e TecK’s FRIP. This natural gas pipeline infrastructure will include the construction of a 2.3 km long, four-inch pipeline, along with an accompanying regulator station and metering station. e TecK will invest 100% of the cost for the EPC arrangement and will pursue and manage the eventual tenants for FRIP on a phased basis.
Located at Factory Road, Chaguanas, this 65-acre park, will have a peak load of 1,014 million metric British thermal units (mmBtu) of gas per day. Construction works are expected to commence in August 2021 with a scheduled completion date of first quarter 2022. It is anticipated that it will contribute to the expansion of the local business sector, drive further economic growth, create additional employment opportunities and intensify the thrust for diversification.
This successful EPC contract signing enhances cooperation between two major state enterprises, and offers NGC a further revenue stream to achieve its strategic goals. With its wealth of experience in construction of pipeline infrastructure and as the aggregator of natural gas in the local energy sector, the project is a natural fit with its expanded business model to invigorate local activity. Additionally, the anticipated tenants will utilise clean energy via NGC’s natural gas supply thereby reducing T&T carbon footprint and reliance on diesel or electricity as a power source in support of the country’s COP 21 commitments.
e TecK’s President Steve De Las stated: “e TecK continues to make positive strides in supporting the diversification of Trinidad and Tobago’s economy by delivering on our mandate to develop and manage new economic zones for non-energy businesses to grow. We are meeting the demands for industrial space and helping to sustain the manufacturing sector through our development projects such as the completion of e TecK’s Moruga Agro-Processing and Light Industrial Park, and now with the continued construction of e TecK’s Phoenix Park Industrial Estate and Factory Road Industrial Park (FRIP).”
De Las also pointed out that “We have an estimated 12 lots at this park targeting businesses operating in light manufacturing and training, logistics and distribution of food items, food processing, warehousing and distribution. These sectors are expected to be a catalyst for growth in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and employment opportunities.
e TecK is indeed pleased to engage NGC to bring natural gas to necessitate the operations of future tenants at the Park while achieving the broader vision of diversifying the nation’s economy.”
NGC President Mark Loquan remarked that, “NGC continues to seek value creation opportunities which will ensure the future sustainability of not just our business, but our country’s energy sector. We at NGC confirm the strength of our business strategy on diversification, as one of its key elements is to grow our current business by leveraging our technological know-how to ensure more efficient and environmentally better performing processes. We acknowledge through this signing, the excellent downstream prospects of this project and are proud to be a key enabler for future growth. Projects such as this continue to harness local capability, are win-win for us as a Company, and as a nation create the avenues for future growth.”
