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A political row is brewing over the temporary shutdown of Nutrien Ltd’s nitrogen operations at Point Lisas, as Energy Minister Dr. Roodal Moonilal blamed the previous administration for unresolved contractual issues, while former minister Stuart Young accused the government of triggering the collapse of investor confidence in the energy sector.

Nutrien announced on Tuesday that it will commence a controlled shutdown of its Trinidad Nitrogen operations effective October 23, citing restricted port access imposed by the National Energy Corporation (NEC) and a prolonged period of “unreliable and uneconomic” natural gas supply.

The shutdown will remain in place “until a sustainable operating environment can be re-established,” the company said, though it affirmed that its 2025 global nitrogen sales target of 10.7 to 11.2 million tonnes remains achievable through strong performance in North America.