Caribbean Gas Chemical Limited loads its inaugural Methanol Cargo onboard the M/T Trans Catalonia
The M/T Trans Catalonia anchored at LABIDCO’s Port of Brighton La Brea, on September 27, 2020, and was subsequently moored at Berth 2, on September 28, 2020. More than 13,000 metric tons of methanol were loaded onto the vessel. CGCL’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Nakaba Aoyagi, expressed great satisfaction with this notable accomplishment and remarked: “This is a great day for CGCL! The team has worked tirelessly to get us to this point amid a dreadful pandemic and I am extremely proud of the achievement of this remarkable milestone for both the company and the country.”
CGCL commenced construction of its US$990 million dollars Methanol and Di-Methyl Ether (DME) Facility at Union Industrial Estate (UIE), La Brea, in September 2015 and achieved Mechanical Completion on June 27, 2020. At the height of construction, the project employed over two thousand (2000) individuals, many of whom resided within La Brea and its fence-line communities. Circa 13.5 million, man-hours (CGCL employees plus Contractors) were expended over the life of the Project. Commercial operation of the Facility is expected within 4Q 2020. At its peak, the Facility will produce 1,000,000 metric tonnes of Methanol and 20,000 metric tonnes of Dimethyl Ether, per year.
CGCL is a joint venture led by a consortium comprising Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, Inc., Mitsubishi Corporation, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Engineering Ltd., The National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited, and Massy Holdings Limited. The strategic partnership allows for supportive financing and industry cooperation among local and international stakeholders.
When asked about the strategic value of the partnership arrangement, CEO, Aoyagi said “The Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago has confirmed the strategic importance of the petrochemical industry to Trinidad and Tobago’s economy by encouraging private/foreign investment in the downstream, thereby stimulating foreign exchange generation, creating high-quality jobs and stimulating the local economic multiplier effect through the contracting of a multitude of local services over the life of the investment. CGCL looks forwards to doing its part in boosting the local economy through its efforts and contributions and intends to play an integral role in the delivery of cleaner energy, to the world.”
The long-term goal of CGCL is to become a world-class producer of Methanol and DME.
