NGC seeks to create hydrogen-based economy

Trinidad and Tobago’s state-owned Natural Gas Co. (NGC) is working with National Energy, its wholly owned subsidiary, and an independent consulting firm, Kenesjay Green Ltd (Kenesjay), to create a sustainable hydrogen-based economy for the Caribbean state.

Prime Minister Keith Rowley announced NGC’s plans last week during the Trinidad and Tobago Energy Conference 2022. He described the initiative as part of the country’s move toward energy transition.

“Our hydrogen policy envisages the movement to hydrogen from renewable sources – not only as a decarbonisation tool, but also as feedstock for industry and a form of alternative energy, once the economics pan out,” he said. He added that he expected hydrogen to play an important role in the country’s petrochemical sector, saying it would give Trinidad and Tobago a competitive advantage over other states with higher greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

The prime minister further noted that NGC was at the forefront of the establishment of a new green agency: the Sub-Committee of the Point Lisas Energy Association (PLEA). This body is expected to head up the PLEA sustainability and green agenda actions, which involves corresponding with member companies in order to ensure synergy going forward, he said.

Rowley stated that he is of the belief that the NGC-led collaboration will enable PLEA to advance its sustainability agenda and establish itself as a world-class industrial centre, provided that the parties involved remain innovative.

Foundational work on the sustainable hydrogen economy commenced in September 2021, when Trinidad and Tobago’s Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries (MEEI) partnered with National Energy and the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) to conduct a feasibility study titled “Establishment of a Green Hydrogen Market in Trinidad and Tobago.”

The aim of this study is to provide a roadmap for the decarbonisation of Trinidad and Tobago’s energy-based industries, as well as identifying the milestones that will need to be reached in order to achieve a hydrogen-based economy.

NGC has been highly active in the hydrogen sector, signing a letter of intent (LoI) with hydrogen start-up NewGen Energy for the development of the latter company’s hydrogen production facility.