It is reported that Trinidad and Tobago High Court has at least temporarily blocked the building of Alutrint aluminium smelter and the Essar steel mill due to global financial meltdown.

Mr Roshan Babwah manager administration community affairs at Essar Steel Caribbean Limited said that it has a Certificate of Environmental Clearance from the Environmental Management Authority to build. Essar Steel intends to build a USD 2.2 billion plant near Pranz Gardens on the Pt Lisas Industrial Estate.

Mr Babwah said that the Essar CEC was dated August 2006 but was on hold because of the world financial crisis. He added that "We are, however, committed to this project and we are tying up loose ends at this time. As soon as the financial situation changed, the company would begin construction."

The Essar Group has secured a mineral concession in North Brazil to supply iron ore for the 2.5 million tonne plant. The project has seen protest from the some of the same anti-smelter activists whose legal challenge resulted in the court blocking the Alutrint smelter construction at La Brea.

(Sourced from www.trinidadexpress.com)