Can you please give us a brief overview of Air Liquide’s operations in Trinidad and Tobago?

Air Liquide has been supplying industrial gases to several companies in Trinidad and Tobago for many years. The Point Lisas Industrial Estate is where most of the manufacturing activities in the country take place, and virtually all the major companies in the region require industrial gases. We have two Air Separation Units (ASU) at Point Lisas, and our products from both facilities are distributed through a pipeline network that connects to our customers’ manufacturing facilities throughout the estate. Our vision is to operate as a utility industrial gas supplier for the entire estate, and so far, we have been successful in achieving that goal. Our operations here are intended to be a smaller-scale version of the massive pipeline systems Air Liquide provides worldwide.

Could you please give us an idea of how important Air Liquide in Trinidad and Tobago is to the company’s global network?

Air Liquide in Trinidad and Tobago is a crucial part of the company’s global operations. Our focus on growth worldwide includes expanding and maintaining pipeline supply systems, and we have already established an extensive pipeline network in Point Lisas. We are looking for new investment opportunities in Trinidad and Tobago to continue our growth.

Air Liquide’s investments in Trinidad and Tobago so far are geared towards some very real growth opportunities. What further expansions do you have planned for Trinidad and Tobago?

Air Liquide recently completed an ASU expansion that became operational last year, built to support potential growth in the industrial gas market. The latest bid round on the newly released tranches of natural gas could potentially lead to significant expansion in industrial gas demand, and we are working to position ourselves to take advantage of it. Our existing customer base in Trinidad and Tobago consists mainly of companies we have worked with in other regions of the world, and we hope to continue that trend as the market expands. Additionally, we look for partnerships with local companies, such as our current partnership with Industrial Gases, Ltd., which is part of the Neal and Massy Group. Trinidad and Tobago is growing well and is a focal point on the world map for people and companies interested in using natural gas. The government is now pushing further downstream, and companies are expected to fuel economic advancement beyond exploration and production. This provides opportunities for Air Liquide because downstream manufacturers almost always have an industrial gas component. We are excited about the opportunity and trying to align our growth with that of the market in Trinidad and Tobago.

Could you please share your thoughts on the overall economy surrounding the natural gas industry?

Historically, Trinidad and Tobago natural gas prices have been competitive. This was a major advantage in becoming the preferred supplier to the enormous import market of the United States. With the discoveries of shale gas supplies in the U.S., this situation has changed quite dramatically, and the country will now have to work on maintaining its competitive edge. There are major economic headwinds to overcome in this regard, but people are investing in building long-term plants, which indicates that there is a positive future for the industry as a whole. Both Trinidad and Tobago and Air Liquide have worked on mitigating risk through diversification, and by not putting all our eggs in one basket, we maintain our appeal and growth potential.

In terms of Air Liquide’s future in Trinidad and Tobago, where would you like to see the company in 2-3 years?

Air Liquide aims to continue growing and expanding its portfolio in Trinidad and Tobago. Our previous five-year plan was to double our capacity from 2011 to 2015, and we are currently on track to achieve that. However, we also need to see another wave of expansion to support the potential growth in the industrial gas market. There has been interest from both existing and new clients, and we hope to position ourselves to take advantage of the opportunities in the market.