The National Petroleum Company Ltd (NP) has informed the Tobago House of Assembly that it will cost $50 million to have fuel lines connected from the old ANR Robinson International Airport to the new terminal.
This was confirmed yesterday by THA Chief Secretary Farley Augustine, who noted the new ANR Robinson International Airport terminal was built without a fuelling station.
Augustine told the Express that NP had previously advised him that to connect fuel lines to the new ANR Robinson International Airport from the existing airport would cost approximately $50 million.
“I met with NP some months ago (and) they indicated it would cost them about $50 million to run the line to the new terminal, and NP was wondering whether or not they should now bear that cost, so all of those things are being considered because we don’t just want a new terminal; we want a terminal that is modern, that is efficient, that is competitive with the others in the region and beyond the region,” he stated.
Augustine said former infrastructure secretary Trevor James raised the issue of the implementation of a fuelling station at the new ANR Robinson International Airport terminal back in 2022, when the then-PNM Cabinet convened in Tobago at the prime minister’s residence.
But the THA was ignored, he recalled.
“But of course, as usual, in 2022 the THA was ignored, our thoughts were not considered at the time and the terminal was built without that critical infrastructure there,” he stated.
Augustine said the THA was willing to work with Central Government towards an efficient operationalisation of the terminal.
“Airports in of themselves are potentials for generating income; we have to see the airport as such and not just as a hub for planes to land and pick up people, but as an income-generating facility…”
Minister of Works and Infrastructure Jearlean John, during an interview with the Express on Monday, stated there are some variations to be realised at the ANR Robinson International Airport terminal.
She spoke about her concern about the lack of fuelling capacity at the facility and her intention to meet later this week with officials concerning the way forward. She said the matter is to be brought before Cabinet next week.
