Trinidad and Tobago’s State-Owned Oil Refinery: At Least 10 Proposals Received
The Trinidad and Tobago government has announced that at least 10 proposals have been submitted for the operation of the state-owned oil refinery in Point-a Pierre. This comes after Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley announced that Jindal Steel and Power Limited was no longer a contender for the takeover of the asset.
Evaluation Committee Working on Review
According to Energy and Energy Industries Minister Stuart Young, the evaluation committee chaired by former permanent secretary Vishnu Dhanpaul is busy reviewing the proposals. “Right now, the evaluation committee is busy working at it and looking at what has come forward,” Young said. He declined to state the precise number of bids, citing that the process of review was ongoing.
PM Responds to Jindal’s Withdrawal
Prime Minister Rowley recently revealed that he had received a letter from Jindal Steel and Power Limited’s chairman, Naveen Jindal, on July 26, indicating that the company was no longer interested in investing in the Guaracara refinery. “All that happened is that a number of Trinidad & Tobago politicians launched an attack on Naveen Jindal personally. This is a man who is chairing a conglomerate that produces 40 per cent of India’s steel and has investments around the world,” Rowley said.
Corruption Allegations
In response to the disclosure, the main opposition party, United National Congress, welcomed the decision by the businessman. However, corruption allegations have been leveled against Jindal, with opposition leader Kamla Persad Bissessar calling for Prime Minister Rowley to address the allegations in June.
Conclusion
The Trinidad and Tobago government has received at least 10 proposals for the operation of the state-owned oil refinery in Point-a Pierre. The evaluation committee is reviewing the proposals, and the prime minister has responded to the withdrawal of Jindal Steel and Power Limited. Corruption allegations have also been raised against Jindal, which may have contributed to his company’s decision to withdraw its interest in the refinery.
FAQs
Q: What is the number of proposals received for the operation of the state-owned oil refinery?
A: At least 10 proposals have been submitted for the operation of the state-owned oil refinery in Point-a Pierre.
Q: Why did Jindal Steel and Power Limited withdraw its interest in the refinery?
A: Prime Minister Rowley revealed that the company received attacks from opposition politicians, which may have contributed to its decision to withdraw its interest.
Q: What are the implications of the withdrawal of Jindal Steel and Power Limited?
A: The withdrawal of Jindal Steel and Power Limited may delay the restart of the refinery, which has been experiencing significant losses. The government has received at least 10 proposals to operate the refinery, which are being reviewed by the evaluation committee.
Q: Are there corruption allegations against Jindal?
A: Yes, opposition leader Kamla Persad Bissessar called for Prime Minister Rowley to address allegations of corruption involving Jindal in June.