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A political row is brewing over the temporary shutdown of Nutrien Ltd’s nitrogen operations at Point Lisas, as Energy Minister Dr. Roodal Moonilal blamed the previous administration for unresolved contractual issues, while former minister Stuart Young accused the government of triggering the collapse of investor confidence in the energy sector. Nutrien announced on Tuesday that it will commence a controlled shutdown of its Trinidad Nitrogen operations effective October 23, citing restricted port access imposed by the National Energy Corporation (NEC) and a prolonged period of “unreliable and uneconomic” natural gas supply. The shutdown will remain in place “until a sustainable operating environment can be re-established,” the company said, though it affirmed that its 2025 global nitrogen sales target of 10.7 to 11.2 million tonnes remains achievable through strong performance in North America. Nutrien’s Trinidad complex produces approximately 85,000 tonnes of ammonia and 55,000 tonnes of urea per month, and the company has already begun preparing a controlled shutdown plan, including temporary workforce adjustments and enhanced site security. In a statement, Moonilal confirmed that discussions were ongoing between Nutrien, NEC and other downstream operators over updated contracts for the use of port facilities at Point Lisas. “The National Energy Corporation, under the former administration of Mr. Stuart Young, failed in over four years to negotiate new contractual arrangements with several of the downstream operators,” Moonilal said. “ This fell to us as we entered office. We are in ongoing discussions with Nutrien concerning port restrictions and port access and I expect that this matter will continue to occupy our attention. Those discussions are ongoing and we will have further updates in the coming days.” However, former prime minister and energy minister Stuart Young, now in Opposition, said the Nutrien shutdown was “the first sign of collapse of the energy sector under the UNC Government.” In a Facebook post, Young alleged that the government’s handling of NEC and NGC, including the removal of senior executives and board changes, has destabilised Point Lisas and damaged investor confidence. “...the management of stakeholder relationships and the confidence of foreign investors in our energy sector is critical and should be carefully handled.,” Young said. “Unfortunately it is clear that the Prime Minister and her two Ministers of Energy are destroying our energy sector and this will affect investment and also our revenue.”
