Remarks: Ambassador Peter Cavendish, Head of Delegation,

EU Delegation, Trinidad and Tobago

Commissioning Ceremony for the Solar Park at Piarco International Airport

Tuesday 30^th July 2024 at 10:30 am. VIP lounge, Airports Authority of Trinidad and Tobago

Salutations

The Honourable Stuart Young, Minister for Energy and Energy Industries, acting Prime Minister

The Honourable, Pennelope Beckles Robinson Minister for Planning and Development

Senator the Honourable, Rohan Sinanan, Minister of Works and Transport

H.E. Christophe Eick, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany

H.E. Cor Hersbach, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Mr Ghislain Commergnat, deputy Head of Mission, French Embassy

Mr Enrique López-Alascio Torres, Chargé d’Affaires, Embassy of the Kingdom of Spain

Mr Christopher Alcazar, AATT Chairman

Mr Hayden Newton, General Manager, AATT

Mr Emmanuel Baah, Deputy General Manager, AATT

Permanent Secretaries

Members of the media

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen,

Good morning to you all!

I am pleased to be able to mention that I am joined here this morning by fellow Ambassadors and a Chargé d’Affaires who collectively are representing about half of the population of Europe of 448 million citizens.

At this moment, I take the opportunity to cast back and cast forwards - the European Union first established a diplomatic presence in Trinidad and Tobago in 1976.  Since that time, the EU has contributed over EUR 300 million (approx. TT$2.4 billion), not adjusting for inflation, in diverse areas such as infrastructure, agriculture, business, education. The EUR 300 million are international partnership funds only and does not include Foreign Policy Instrument funds aiding the defence forces, security and judicial sectors.

Over time, this relationship has evolved and become more of a partnership of equals, moving from one that was based primarily on development cooperation to one that also addresses political issues including human rights, security, trade and economic relations, cultural relations and education and research. Today T&T exports EUR 5.7 B to the EU each year, it imports EUR 1.1 B from the EU, and therefore it has a balance of trade surplus of EUR 4.6 (TT$33.58 B) with the EU.

In addition, this partnership is far from being exclusive to the Government.  Over the years, the Delegation has worked successfully with diverse organizations and sectors across the country, including civil society organizations, the private sector, tertiary institutions and the public in general.

In 2026, the EU and T&T will celebrate 50 years  of diplomatic relations and partnership.. The launch of this Solar Park will form a part of the rich history of our partnership. In parallel in 2026 there will be the 250^th anniversary of the Boundary Main Ridge Reserve – the legal act dating from 1776 is considered to be the first piece of environmental legislation of the modern era. I am pleased to say that we have also worked with the GoRTT to install solar panels there.

It was already two years ago, in July 2022, that I had the pleasure of participating in the kick-off event - the sod-turning ceremony for this Solar Park. This solar installation was, and will remain, the first activity of its kind in Trinidad and Tobago, and the EU is immensely proud to be associated with this green milestone!

Today, we are excited to be back to participate in the culmination of this project - the commissioning of the park! But first, let us take a quick look back at what brought us to this point:

It was through a grant of EUR 1.5 million (equivalent to 12 million TT dollars), to the Airports Authority of Trinidad and Tobago, that the EU was able to finance this installation of a large-scale solar panel system at Piarco International Airport. An airport with one of the largest numbers of passenger usage in the Caribbean.

The premise of the project was to further effect a 20% reduction in CO2 emissions from aircrafts operating in Trinidad and Tobago by switching approximately 4% of the electricity consumed by AATT from the grid to a renewable source – in this case, solar PV.

This project increases Trinidad and Tobago’s resilience to climate change by introducing renewable energy as an energy source for electricity generation.  It contributes to energy security while also reducing the use of fossil fuel-based electricity. This initiative also directly supports several Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

The project will also help assist Trinidad and Tobago to meet its commitments under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, while significantly reducing spending on electricity generation, resulting in substantial financial savings in energy consumption by the Airports Authority of T&T.

It is our hope that the project will become a substantive demonstration to the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago of the capacity of this country to implement state-of-the-art technology to meet international commitments, and further, that the commercial sector here in Trinidad and Tobago and in the region will have it a reference point for their own renewable energy projects.

This project was supported under the EU’s Green Deal and includes the Global Climate Change Alliance Plus Initiative (GCCA+). GCCA+, as you know, is one of the European Union’s flagship initiatives, which is helping the world's most vulnerable countries to address climate change.

The EU has set very ambitious goals to combat climate change – to achieve 55% fewer greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, with a longer-term vision to make the bloc climate neutral by 2050. The Green Deal is our roadmap to making those climate ambitions a reality.

The EU realizes, however, that effectively addressing climate change requires working together with our partners around the world. This solar plant is a demonstration of the path the EU intends to take – providing support to our partners through our new Global Gateway Investment Agenda (GGIA).

For those unfamiliar, the GGIA represents the European Union’s offer to bridge the investment gap in the region, utilizing public financing to leverage private capital and investment. This Investment Agenda provides a framework for the EU’s continued support to ongoing efforts in the region to advance a green and just transition.

In the context of GGIA therefore, and as we look towards the future, I am excited to share some of the new and innovative initiatives that the EU will be embarking upon to further support and advance Trinidad and Tobago's renewable energy transition. 

We are working on a number of complementary fronts, including:

• Expanding Renewable Energy infrastructure: Similar to what we are witnessing here today, including the installation of solar power at Piarco International Airport and at 17 (potentially 18) public and community buildings, through another grant implemented by UNDP.
• Revising the policy and normative framework: After supporting the production of the wind energy strategy and a wind resource map, we are ready to assist with the revision of the requisite legal and policy framework.
• Assisting with research and knowledge management: We will assist the Ministry of Energy in conducting a Wind Resource Assessment Programme (WRAP) in 2024. This follows the “Setting the path for Wind Energy Generation in Trinidad & Tobago” study, funded by the EU-Technical Assistance Facility. The Government has expressed interest in further support from the EU for developing and performing WRAP, determining wind generation feasibility for utility-scale power generation. The terms of reference have already been drafted to support the setup of wind measuring equipment provided by the government, start measurements of the wind energy potential at two sites in T&T, and train a local team to perform wind energy measurements following international standards.
• Facilitating private sector investments: With particular interest in wind and green hydrogen production.

The EU and its Member States are the largest providers of climate finance in the world. The EU only gives aid it does not itself give loans. It is often the world’s largest development and humanitarian donor, in value terms but also in terms of cash or liquidity provided. The EU has paid and continues to pay to transport the aid of others. The European Investment Bank owned by EU Member States is the world’s oldest development bank with the highest credit rating and is a not-for-profit organisation. With a population of 448 million the population of technical persons is vast and their skills may be accessed under the Technical Assistance and Information Exchange (TAIEX) for the benefit of sectors very relevant to T&T’s future economic diversification.

The Global Gateway adds strength and credibility to the EU's leadership in this regard, bringing the private sector and European Development Financial Institutions right into the core of it. We recognize that public sector finance will never be enough to respond to the scale of the climate and environmental challenges. All actors will need to be on board and align financial flows with the Paris Agreement goals.

Moreover, it is important to highlight how this initiative benefits people on the ground. By transitioning to renewable energy sources, we are not only contributing to a healthier environment, but also to the well-being of our communities. Reduced air pollution means cleaner air for families, leading to better health outcomes. Lower energy costs can translate into more affordable electricity for households, freeing up resources for other essential needs. Further, the development and maintenance of renewable energy infrastructure create job opportunities, fostering economic growth and stability for local communities.

Here today, yet again, we have another example of a successful partnership with a flagship EU-TT project. It is a flagship of Trinbagonian foresight, leadership, and cooperation. It is also a flagship of Trinbagonian professionalism, coordination, communication, and stick-to-itiveness, not only with the Airports Authority of Trinidad and Tobago, but also with all the stakeholder agencies  including the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries, the Multilateral Environmental Agreements Unit (MEAU) of the Ministry of Planning and Development, the Ministry of Works and Transport, the Ministry of Public Utilities, the Tobago House of Assembly, the Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission, and the United Nations Development Programme.

Rest assured, the EU remains fully committed to its partnership with T&T and, going forward via the Global Gateway, the EU is very keen to bridge the gap between the state, private sector and international financial institutions through our blended facilities and guarantees scheme.

Before I end, I wish to offer some words of special appreciation to the staff of the Airports Authority of Trinidad and Tobago. Without your serious commitment and professionalism, and Trinbagonian ‘stick-to-itiveness’ it would have been virtually impossible to deliver this project. In particular, I would like to recognize the Project Manager, Mr Rion Murray.  Thank you Rion for all of your hard work on this project.

I also wish to recognize the various contractors for the works undertaken, the project steering committee for their guidance, as well as to all the officials of the various Ministries and agencies involved. Thank you for your contributions to the successful completion of this project.

And thank you all for your kind attention today.