Nutrien Shuts Down Point Lisas Nitrogen Operations, Putting 350 Jobs at Risk

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar defended the government’s handling of Nutrien’s shutdown, saying the Canadian company chose to close its Point Lisas nitrogen plant and that NGC must protect its own workers and gas returns. About 350 workers were told retrenchment will begin, deepening concerns over jobs and foreign exchange as economists warn the exit could hurt GDP and the wider energy sector.

Nutrien’s indefinite shutdown of its Point Lisas nitrogen operations is expected to hit Trinidad and Tobago’s economy through job losses, weaker exports, lower foreign exchange and reduced tax revenue. The Energy Chamber said the closure will also hurt contractors, suppliers and small businesses in South Trinidad, and urged government to secure reliable, competitively priced gas supplies.

Nutrien will indefinitely shut down its Point Lisas nitrogen complex in Trinidad, putting about 350 workers at risk of retrenchment after a staff meeting on the decision. The Canadian company cited restricted port access and an unreliable, uneconomic natural gas supply, ending a major industrial operation that supported exports, jobs and foreign exchange in Trinidad and Tobago.

Nutrien will permanently shut down its Trinidad nitrogen plant at Point Lisas after reviewing options and citing ongoing natural gas shortages and uncertainty. The company said the move should improve cash flow and return on investment, and it will not change 2026 sales guidance because no production from Trinidad was already assumed.

Nutrien has decided to permanently shut its Trinidad nitrogen operations at Point Lisas, ending a year of idling caused by natural gas supply problems and port access restrictions. Staff were told retrenchment is about to begin, affecting workers at the plant and deepening concern over industrial jobs and gas-linked operations in Trinidad.