The correct way to stop the Alutrint smelter is to keep the power plant, keep the port, stop the smelter, and immediately call a halt to the frenzied building of the 45,000 tons alumina silo. This way will save the nation millions of dollars.
According to the affidavit of Leroy Mayers, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy, Chairman of Alutrint, Member of the boards of both National Energy Corporation and the Trinidad Generation Unlimited power plant, the total cost of the smelter project was US $1.4 billion. The cost projected for the power plant was US$708 million, the port and silo US$166 million, and the smelter US$540 million.
No work has started on the smelter; this matter is before the Appeal Court. The power plant is almost complete, so is the port. The logical thing to do is to keep the power plant, keep the port, and stop the smelter. Develop a cluster of industries on the empty smelter spot to use the electricity from the power plant that was designated for smelter. A number of such industries have been suggested to the authorities, which could use both power plant electricity and the port.
When the smelter is stopped, the Trinidad and Tobago economy would have gained, not lost. The cost of gas alone, not even counting other raw material inputs like alumina, would bust the smelter. Anyone who still feels that the benefit of smelter would be more than the cost, please read the following:
DR LLOYD BEST called smelters a “major mistake”. In June 2004, Curtis Williams reported: “Best was concerned the country was allowing its resources to be used in a smelter with little return to the country.”
PROFESSOR JOHN SPENCE, UWI Professor, former senator, columnist: “My conclusion is definitely, that we should not smelt bauxite or alumina in Trinidad. This is based on the social, health, environmental, economic and governance issues.” (April 2006)
PROFESSOR JULIAN KENNY, former senator and UWI Professor. In newspapers articles dating back to 2004, Professor Kenny has condemned smelter as a threat to biodiversity, the ecology of the South Western Peninsula, our health, and to prudent land use planning. “And where will the wastes go in this country of 260 persons per square kilometer? Not near Port of Spain and certainly not near San Fernando East. Fluorides? Spent pot liners? Anodes? Solid wastes?” (June 2005).
PROFESSOR DENNIS PANTIN, UWI Professor and columnist. Smelter should be rejected if there is no information on: “alternative uses of the natural gas inputs, the land space in … La Brea relative to alternative uses of the gas, land space and other human and financial costs which the society would have to incur: all based on full disclosure to the ultimate shareholders: i.e. the citizens, residents and taxpayers of T&T.” No Cost Benefit Analysis or Account Sheet on Alutrint has been given to the Parliament or Public after six years.
PROFESSOR SELWYN RYAN, UWI Professor and columnist: “One wonders whether Williams would now insist in building the smelter on the terms that are apparently being considered and which do not seem to be of much benefit to Trinidad and Tobago.” (July 2006)
MARY KING, Economist, former Senator and Head, Joint Select Committee of Parliament, established to consider the proposed aluminum smelter: “Nothing has come to the Parliament and little to the general public which defines and justifies the creation of an aluminum industry with respect to the feasibility and optimum use of our diminishing natural gas reserves, its impact on the environment, the levels of earnings from the sale of gas and a comparison with the longer uses to which this gas can be put in the context of Peak Oil.” (May, 2006). In September 2009, Ms King rejected Alutrint outright at a symposium on the Economics of Alutrint. She gave six reasons why Alutrint is an economic bust.
REG POTTER, Analyst, “It will take discoveries of 1.5 trillion cubic feet per year to simply stand still and at present we have only 12 years of gas production rate left. The time is passed due for a total moratorium on all new gas-related projects before the country is totally ruined.” (July 2006)
MARTIN DALY, Attorney, columnist. “If we install an Emperor and the Emperor is for smelter, we the people will be the waste.” (August, 2002).
DR STEVE SMITH, Medical Doctor, former President of the Medical Board: “The potential environmental onslaught that will occur, in the wake of the construction of an aluminum smelter in the South West Peninsula of this country, constitutes the single most significant threat to gains achieved through advances in “public health” during my own lifetime.” (July 2007).
MRS KAMLA PERSAD-BISSESSAR.: “I made it clear today that a UNC Government would take into account the wishes of the people with respect to the PNM’S “done deal” smelters and terminate any deal that they have made in the absence of meaningful dialogue with the communities and transparent accounting to the people of this nation.” (October, 2006). In 2009, a letter was sent by UNC-led Public Accounts Committee of Parliament to the Acting Auditor General enquiring after Alutrint’s accounts. No Accounts.
MR WINSTON DOOKERAN, COP leader, Economist, former Governor of the Central Bank: “Giving away our gas for these [aluminum] projects is really giving away our patrimony. Is this really the best way to use a very finite resource?” (June 2006).
MR MAKANDAL DAGGA, NJAC leader. “No Smelter”. Smelter is ruinous to our economy, our resources and our lands, peoples and communities.
A silo is currently being built on the port at Labidco, La Brea. This silo is smelter-specific. It is being built to accommodate 45,000 tons of alumina for a smelter which is not going to happen. Work is going ahead full speed on this silo, on weekdays, public holidays and weekends. This silo must be stopped immediately. The port and power plant must continue. This is the correct way to stop the smelter.
Wayne Kublalsingh
