Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries Press Release: T&T to join Global Biofuels Alliance
The Government Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) has announced that T&T will join the Global Biofuels Alliance. The announcement was made after a special Joint Assembly of the Senate and the House of Representatives, held on the occasion of the Official Visit to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago by His Excellency Shri Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of the Republic of India.
The Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA) is a collaborative initiative launched during the 2023 G20 Summit in New Delhi, spearheaded by India. Its primary objective is to promote the widespread adoption of biofuels globally, emphasizing partnerships with private sector entities to enhance the biofuel capabilities of its member countries. Trinidad and Tobago's successful membership will grant access to vital resources, including technical support, policy guidance, market analysis, and evaluation tools for biofuel feedstocks sourced from various biological materials. Furthermore, this membership will enable connections to specialized research, expert networks, and funding opportunities tailored to tackle the unique challenges encountered by Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
Notably, the GBA will build upon Trinidad and Tobago’s existing cooperation as this country is also part of the India led International Solar Alliance (ISA). This partnership has led to effective coordinated efforts with India, focusing on specific programs and initiatives designed to better align and consolidate demand for solar finance, technologies, innovation, research and development, and capacity building.
The GBA will enable critical support to Trinidad and Tobago’s commitment to its Nationally Determined Contributions, aimed at reducing our current greenhouse gas emissions and also catalyze our decarbonization agenda. In this regard, the GBA will play a key role in accelerating our current biofuel initiatives within the domestic energy sector, such as the pursuit of methanol blending in the transportation sector; waste vegetable oil re-use; and wood-based production of biofuels.
With this announcement, Dr. The Honourable Roodal Moonilal, Minister of Energy and Energy Industries, underscored the vital significance of this Alliance. The Minister reiterated the Government's commitment to incorporating low-carbon energy sources into the national energy mix, aiming to position Trinidad and Tobago as a future hub for low-carbon fuels. Dr. Moonilal emphasized the visionary approach of this Government, noting that it has opened new avenues for diversification and growth within the energy sector.