FORMER energy minister and prime minister Stuart Young has described the shutdown of Nutrien’s Trinidad operations at the Point Lisas Industrial Estate as a result of “unfortunate mismanagement of the energy sector.”

He warned it could have far-reaching consequences for Trinidad and Tobago’s global competitiveness.

In a Facebook post on October 23, the same day the shut down was confirmed, Young said the fallout between Nutrien and National Energy was having “a knock-on effect” on the provision of carbon dioxide (CO₂) to manufacturers and other users locally and across the region, with a shortage looming.