La Brea dry dock construction later this year

ENERGY Minister Franklin Khan says construction on the La Brea dry dock facility should begin in the latter part of this year as part of plans to create 3,500 direct and 5,700 indirect jobs in the southwestern peninsula.

He said the project was moving forward to direct negotiations and reiterated this was the first time Chinese direct equity investment was being made available outside of China with China Harbour Engineering having 30 per cent equity in the facility.

He was responding to a question in the Senate on Tuesday from Independent Senator Amrita Deonarine who asked about projects for fence line communities to cushion the impact of the termination of 5,000 jobs at state oil company Petrotrin.

Khan said a number of projects benefiting fence line communities are already in train and others were about to be embarked on. He said the projects for the West, South and Southwestern peninsula communities include: San Fernando/Point Fortin Highway which is already in train and construction is being accelerated in 2019;

La Brea dry docking facility and the National Infrastructure Development Company and China Harbour Engineering Company have executed a cooperation agreement for the development over a three year period at a cost of US $500 million and construction activity will include deep water channel excavation, offshore reclamation and terminal land construction;

Construction of the jacket by Trinidad Offshore Fabricators Company Limited of bpTT Cassia field development platform “and we are pleased to announce we have brought back fabrication to La Brea.

He said other projects were Phoenix Park Industrial Estate, San Fernando Waterfront Redevelopment and Regeneration project, development of an administrative complex at Chancery Lane, San Fernando. new fishing port in Moruga and rehabilitation of the Moruga Road.

He said if required counselling services will be provided to members of fence line communities. “However more appropriately there will be community engagement to ensure that members avail themselves to the opportunities.”