THE NATIONAL Gas Company (NGC) Group released its first energy map of TT in seven years on Monday and its first-ever "green map."
The maps, NGC said, were designed to sensitise the nation about TT's energy infrastructure, exploits and the company's green-energy agenda.
On Monday, NGC presented a copy of the two maps to Energy Minister Stuart Young at Hyatt Regency, Port of Spain.
NGC chairman Joseph Ishmael Khan said the maps do justice to TT’s complex and expansive energy infrastructure.
This infrastructure, he said, "far out into the sea, with enough pipelines in the network to line the shores of Trinidad multiple times.
“The fact that this infrastructure is largely invisible makes these maps even more striking – they are almost like X-ray images, revealing hidden structures and systems that (power) our country.”
[caption id="attachment_1078887" align="alignnone" width="1024"] NGC's Energy Map 2023: NGC Group chairman Dr Joseph Ishmael Khan, left, presents Energy Minister Stuart Young with the TT Energy Map 2023 at Hyatt Regency, Port of Spain on Monday. - Photo by Angelo Marcelle[/caption]
Khan said the energy network displayed on the map, “from platforms to pipelines to plants – it is much easier for us as citizens to appreciate the reference that energy is the backbone of our economy.
“It is much easier to understand how a small country like TT could become a giant in global energy.
“It is also much easier to appreciate why so much diplomacy, research, investment, planning and development centre on this sector.”
Khan said the maps are important tools for public education and sensitisation to the group’s advances.
Sole-sponsor NGC released the map in 2005 and updated it in 2012, 2015 and 2017.
The conventional and "green" maps were produced with guidance from UK energy multimedia firm Petroleum Economist, with input from the Ministry of Energy and energy companies operating in TT.
NGC said its portfolio of carbon reduction and sustainability activities, referred to as its Green Agenda, aims to raise awareness of the need and strategies for addressing climate change. Like earlier versions, the 2023 map will be “utilised in applications (supporting) NGC’s brand promotions and its efforts in energy education at international and regional fora,” the company said.
The conventional energy map includes information related to TT’s LNG exports; history of gas, crude oil and condensate production; deepwater area designated for development; business and investment legislation; methanol and ammonia gas-usage trends.
The new green map displays hydrocarbon-based energy assets; TT’s solar and wind energy potential; the location of CNG stations; LNG production data; regional clean energy projects and targets; the location of NGC’s reforestation programme sites, (which serve as carbon offsets in support of the energy transition), and the NGC Group and other local companies’ renewable energy projects.
Khan said while the NGC’s footprint dominates the map, it not just “a flourish of branding,” bu
