Jerome Dookie, Chairman, Energy Chamber of Trinidad and Tobago
Chairman’s remarks at the Process Safety Forum 2024 (APRIL 17th 2024)
Ladies and gentlemen – Good Morning
Welcome to the Energy Chamber’s inaugural Process Safety Forum.
It is my pleasure and privilege to be here with you today as we convene to address one of the most paramount aspects of our industry – process safety. The Energy Chamber has taken a strategic decision to place a strong focus on process safety and to advocate for measures that will improve process safety (including asset integrity measures) in Trinidad & Tobago. This includes both measures to be taken by industry through joint efforts as well as measures to be taken by state regulatory agencies. It is also anticipated that the Energy Chamber will share experiences and lessons learnt with other countries in the Caribbean region.
We firmly believe that process safety is not merely a requirement or a checkbox to be marked; it is the bedrock upon which our operations stand. The consequences of non-compliance with safety standards are high and can potentially be catastrophic. Process Safety encompasses the systems, procedures, and culture that ensure the safe and reliable functioning of our facilities, protecting not only our personnel but also the environment and the communities in which we operate.
In a mature oil and gas province such as ours, the significance of process safety cannot be overstated. As our infrastructure ages and our operations become more complex, the margin for error diminishes exponentially. It is imperative that we maintain the highest standards of process safety to safeguard against potential hazards and mitigate risks effectively.
The Energy Chamber has played a central role in the promotion of personal and contactor safety in Trinidad & Tobago over the past two decades. Our flagship Safe to Work programme has been central to the development of contractor safety management in the sector, while our Learning Centre has provided hundreds of thousands of hours of training and assessments, through both the PLEA 10 safety awareness programme and our focused training courses. The Energy Chamber also played a crucial role in advocating for the passage of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, where we were heavily and successfully involved in discussions with the Government and the trade unions to come to a consensus position.
The Energy Chamber has not, however, taken much of an active role in the issue of process safety or asset integrity. We did host the presentation of the national asset integrity review in 2015 and we have put on some relevant training courses at the Learning Centre over the years. However, the Energy Chamber Board took a decision that in the current strategic planning period we needed to place particular emphasis on this topic. I would like to especially highlight the role played by Mr. Dwight Mahabir, my predecessor as Chair of the Board, in making sure that this issue was high on the Energy Chamber’s agenda.
Why is it important that we place this particular emphasis on process safety and asset integrity at this time in our industry’s history?
We often hear the statement that “T&T has been in the energy industry for over 100 years”. This of course is true, but it also means that most of the industry is operating mature assets.
In Pt Lisas, the first plant commenced operations in 1959 and produced until 2019 when it was shuttered based on gas supply and commercial considerations, rather than reliability issues.
The industry has done an amazing job of rising to the challenges of operating these assets which have earned the country significant revenue and foreign exchange. Keeping these assets operating successfully, while we undergo the energy transition, is going to be vital for the sustainability of our industry.
The industry’s process safety record here in T&T has generally been reasonably strong over the years. However, we cannot be complacent when it comes to safety. This is especially the case with process safety, where an incident can have a catastrophic impact and affect many employees, fence line communities and the environment.
Moreover, in today's rapidly evolving technological landscape, we find ourselves at a pivotal juncture where traditional approaches to process safety must be augmented by new technologies and innovations. We now have at our disposal a plethora of tools that can revolutionize how we manage and enhance process safety in our industry.
Technology can be used to remove people from potentially dangerous situations. Things like drones, digital twinning and satellite monitoring are already being used in the industry to ensure that safe operations can be done remotely.
AI has also been used in several areas to work with data at a rapid pace to ensure better decision making when it comes to risk assessment and management.
However, innovation for the sake of innovation is futile unless it is grounded in practicality and efficacy. As we embark on this journey of exploration and discovery, it is incumbent upon us to ensure that the new technology and innovations we incorporate are not only cutting-edge but also robust, reliable, and tailored to the specific challenges and nuances of our operations in Trinidad and Tobago and the region.
We have started highlighting new technologies in our Innovation and Technology Challenge at the T&T Energy Conference. Since its inception 3 years ago, we’ve seen many projects that are based around safety and using sophisticated technology to reduce risk and improve safe operations. Many of these projects are indigenously developed and we are eager to see wider implementation around the industry as these technologies are strengthened and deployed.
As we gather here today, let us seize this opportunity to exchange insights, share best practices, and forge collaborations that will propel us towards a future where process safety is not just a priority but a way of life. Together, we can chart a course towards a safer, more sustainable, and more resilient energy industry for generations to come.
As I conclude my opening remarks, I would like to specially thank Woodside for their very generous sponsorship of this first Process Safety Forum. Your support is very important to allow the Energy Chamber to execute these events and to work on these issues throughout the year. Thank you very much for all your support.
Finally, I would like to underscore that the issues we face at our individual facilities may seem unique, but I want to urge everyone to view safety as a collective imperative that we can make better as an industry, together. That is why it is important to have these conversations as an industry and once again the Energy Chamber is happy to host this our first Process Safety Forum.
Thank you.