Amid dispute over $190m port fee debt…
October 22, 2025
Global nitrogen producer Nutrien Ltd is shutting down its Trinidad nitrogen operations at Point Lisas, effective tomorrow, amid a dispute with the National Energy Corporation (NEC) over $190 million (US$28 million) in alleged retroactive port fees dating back to January 2021.
Nutrien has challenged the fees, and NEC has signalled its intention to restrict the company’s access to the port.
As a result, Nutrien has informed staff members of plans for “temporary workforce adjustments”, including short-term layoffs.
“If this step becomes necessary, we will also identify a small team to maintain essential services and safeguard company assets during this period,” an internal memo to staff from managing director Edmond Thompson stated.
“Our facility plays an important role in the global food system and provides employment to almost 600 employees and contractors,” Thompson told the Express in an e-mailed response.
Talks ongoing: Energy Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal.
“We will continue to engage with local stakeholders and assess options that may impact the future status of our operations in Trinidad,” he said,
Nutrien said the shutdown will remain in effect until it can “re-establish an operating environment that is economically viable”.
Ammonia and urea sales from Nutrien’s Trinidad operations total roughly 85,000 and 55,000 tonnes per month, respectively, and are exported to 30 countries.
Last month, NEC said it was owed more than $612 million (US$90 million) by port and pier users, and warned that those with significant arrears could face suspension of access if their accounts were not settled.
“This shutdown is in response to port access restrictions imposed by Trinidad and Tobago’s National Energy Corporation (NEC) and a lack of reliable and economic natural gas supply that has reduced the free cash flow contribution of the Trinidad Nitrogen operations over an extended period of time.
“Nutrien will continue to engage with stakeholders and assess options with respect to its operations in Trinidad,” Nutrien stated in a release yesterday.
Government in discussions with Nutrien
Energy Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal confirmed Nutrien and other downstream port users have been in discussions with NEC regarding contractual arrangements, but blamed the former administration for the ongoing dilemma.
“The National Energy Corporation, under the former administration of Mr Stuart Young at the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries, failed over four years to negotiate new contractual arrangements with several of the downstream operators. This fell to us as we entered office,” Moonilal said yesterday via WhatsApp.
He stressed the Government is continuing discussions with Nutrien regarding port restrictions and expects updates in the coming days.
“Again, to confirm that this is a matter that is ongoing, we are meeting with the various entities and users of the port to do what the former administration failed to do, which is to regularise and update contractual arrangements surrounding the use of the port and related matters,” Moonilal added.
He noted some arrangements have been in place for many years, and said: “The former government failed to meet and treat with the downstreamers to rectify some of the archaic and outdated conditions by which operations took place.”
Stuart: Investment and revenue will be affected
Former prime minister and energy minister Stuart Young described the shutdown as “the first sign of collapse of the energy sector under the UNC Government”.
“The new NGC and NEC boards are driving the Pt Lisas Estate into a crisis. This comes after they forced the President of NEC and executive officers of NGC out of office,” Young wrote on Facebook, attaching a screen-grab of the Nutrien release.
He added: “Citizens, the management of stakeholder relationships and the confidence of foreign investors in our energy sector is critical and should be carefully handled. 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.”
Young warned that T&T should be “very concerned about the level of incompetence that has been appointed to manage our energy sector”.
‘Important role’
Nutrien stated its complex plays “an important role” in the Trinidad and Tobago economy and that the company’s goal is to resolve the matter with NEC.
“For over four decades, Nutrien has operated the Point Lisas complex, which comprises four ammonia plants and one urea plant, with product shipped to global markets. Nutrien’s operations contribute significantly to the national economy through plant upgrades, annual taxes, employment, and procurement,” it told the Express.
Last year, Nutrien’s Trinidad nitrogen facility completed two major planned turnarounds at its urea plant and its largest ammonia plant. This involved a combined investment of about US$130 million.
“Turnarounds are designed to keep the plants running reliably for the next four-to-five years,” Thompson said then. “That means we can continue to produce products that enable Nutrien to continue ‘Feeding the Future’ here and around the world.”
The Express contacted NGC chairman Gerald Ramdeen and Nutrien’s VP of global communications, Simon Scott, but had not received comments at the time of publication.
National Energy was also contacted, but said the company has no comment at this time.
Source: Daily Express