A team comprising representatives from the government, Antigua Power Company
Ltd.-Caribbean LNG, and the US embassy in Barbados, were on hand to welcome
the arrival of two huge storage tanks for the new Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) power
plant being constructed at Crabbes.
Utilities and Energy Minister, Melford Nicholas, said LNG represents a key
component of the government’s move to become carbon neutral by the end of the
decade. He noted that LNG, while carbon-based, releases forty percent less of the
harmful emissions of fossil fuels such as diesel and bunker fuel.
He described LNG as ‘a transitional’ fuel as the country moves towards renewable
energy sources such as solar and wind power.
However, Nicholas says that establishing an LNG power plant and terminal in
Antigua and Barbuda will usher in much economic benefits for the country.
“The most important part of this development, in my mind, stems from the future
economic benefits that this development will spurn. Most of the new cruise ships
that are being built are being built with LNG engines to generate power. It is clear
therefore that with the developments of both the cargo and cruise ports in St.
John’s, it means that as more and more cruise ships ply their trade in the
Caribbean, they have an additional incentive to use Antigua and Barbuda as a
refueling stop. This helps us with our exports and it also helps with the economic
diversity we want to build into everything that we do here,” he remarked.
Speaking on behalf of Caribbean LNG, Francis Hadeed explained the significance
of having these specialized tanks here in Antigua and Barbuda.
“These tanks are almost like a freezer; they keep the LNG frozen. They have to
keep the LNG frozen at a temperature of 196 degrees below zero. These tanks will
be transported to Crabbes using barges, as they are too large to be transported on
the nation’s roadways. The Crabbes Terminal will be the only LNG terminal in the
Caribbean region, with the capacity to do small crafts and ship-to-ship fueling of
LNG. Antigua and Barbuda is now strategically poised throughout the region, to
fill ships and to distribute. This will be a dual-purpose facility; to supply the plant
as well as ships and to export as well,” he disclosed.
Hadeed described the development as ‘a game changer’ noting that Antigua and
Barbuda will solidify its position as a leader in energy generation within the sub-region with the development placing the country a further step ahead of ‘everyone else.’
The US Embassy was represented by political affairs officer, Tapitha Snowberger.
Other representatives were on hand from the American partners in Caribbean
LNG, along with the Antigua Port Authority and the shipping company.
