Patriotic remains optimistic on refinery bid

Patriotic Energies and Technologies Co Ltd is anxiously awaiting word from Cabinet on whether its bid to operate the Guaracara refinery was successful.

Almost one week ago, the reconstituted evaluation committee would have submitted to Cabinet the review of the proposal Patriotic would have first submitted on October 31.

That proposal was initially rejected by Energy Minister Franklin Khan. In an almost immediate change of heart, the Prime Minister instructed the evaluation committee to take a second look at the proposal and make further comments and recommendations.

The report was handed in to Cabinet on November 30, however, one of Patriotic’s executive members said on Friday they have had no communication on the topic since.

“We have not heard from the Government or the negotiating team,” Richard Lee, one of Patriotic’s directors said.

He said the Oilfield Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU), Patriotic’s parent company, was anticipating that Dr Rowley or Finance Minister Colm Imbert would have made an announcement in the Parliament on Friday.

That did not happen.

“We have done all that was required of us. We are optimistic we will be successful,” Lee said.

Earlier this week, Rowley who was a guest on the CNC3 Morning Brew programme said at that time he had not yet seen Patriotic’s proposal. He said the report would not have come directly to him but to Cabinet, in keeping with the process.

“I am hoping there is something there that we would like to work with, because I too would like to see the refinery started and in the hands of local people," Rowley said.

“If there is no workable and no useable arrangement in that proviso, then we might have to go out.

"I can’t tell you whether they will get it. It is not mine to give, contrary to what the town crier is saying. It is a process the Government is going through."

The refinery, located in Pointe-a-Pierre, along with the former state-owned Petrotrin was shut down in November 2018. The OWTU subsequently offered to make a bid to acquire and operate the refinery and port. It established Patriotic and was successful in the refinery bid from among over 70 expressions of interest.