Ambassador of Trinidad and Tobago joins energy experts for discussion on Emerging Trends in Energy in the Americas
Washington, DC – “The future of energy in the Americas should be one that is built upon cooperation” – these were the words of H.E. Dr. Neil Parsan, Ambassador of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to the United States in December, 2012 as he participated in a panel discussion focusing on the emerging energy trends in the Americas.
The event was hosted by the Council of the Americas, a Washington, DC based international business organization that encourages dialogue on the many challenges faced by the region.
Ambassador Parsan’s fellow panellists included Mr. Leandro Alves, head of the Energy Division at the Inter-American Development Bank and Director of Energy Markets and Security at the International Energy Agency, Mr. Kaisuke Sadamori.
Although Ambassador Parsan touched on energy issues in the Americas as a whole, he did make several specific references to Trinidad and Tobago. He highlighted the fact that Trinidad and Tobago is the 6th largest exporter of LNG in the world and the largest exporter of ammonia and
methanol from a single site. He also mentioned that the country has had to diversify its export portfolio away from the United States (U.S.) to countries such as Chile, China, Italy, Kuwait, the Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates and Brazil. In January 2012, 81% of Trinidad and Tobago’s LNG exports headed to countries other than the U.S.
He argued as well that the decreasing cost of renewable and alternative energy applications is indeed a welcome phenomenon particularly for the countries of the Caribbean who have been exploring various means of attaining a sustainable source of energy for their economies. Guyana has been examining ways in which the country’s massive hydroelectric potential could be harnessed, Jamaica has developed a successful wind farm, and Barbados has been using solar water heaters for several years. It is hoped that the countries of the Americas will continue to work on harnessing the capacity for wind, solar and geothermal power.
Dr. Parsan said “For both Central America and the Caribbean, a 10% increase in renewable potential capacity could lead to average reduction in current account deficits of almost 1% of GDP…” He explained that Central America and the Caribbean countries can reduce their oil dependency and shield themselves from high oil prices through a combination of renewable energy, energy efficiency programs and regional energy integration.
In highlighting the role of energy security in the hemisphere, Dr. Parsan explained the role of Trinidad and Tobago in hosting the Inaugural Meeting of the Global Gas Council at the Organization of American States (OAS). The purpose of the meeting was to create a dialogue between government and private sector by engaging Diplomatic representatives of the major gas producing and consuming countries resident here and senior industry representatives for an in-depth discussion on the major issues and trends facing the global gas market. ”The initiative reflects Trinidad and Tobago’s strong commitment to encourage discussion involving the energy industry and its future prospects…” said Ambassador Parsan.
The Council of the Americas is one of the leading think tanks in the field of international affairs in Washington, DC. The organization’s members are involved in a variety of disciplines including banking and finance, energy and mining, manufacturing, media, transportation and technology.
