Canadian fertiliser giant Nutrien has announced that it will indefinitely shut down its Trinidad Nitrogen operations at the Point Lisas Industrial Estate, marking a major development for Trinidad and Tobago’s energy and petrochemical sector.
The company announced the decision on Monday, October 5, following what it described as an extensive review of strategic alternatives and discussions with relevant stakeholders.
Nutrien said continuing constraints surrounding the availability of natural gas, along with uncertainty over future supplies, were key factors behind the decision.
According to the company, shutting down the Trinidad operation indefinitely was determined to be the best option for improving free cash flow and returns on invested capital.
The announcement follows almost a year of uncertainty surrounding the Point Lisas operation.
Nutrien initially carried out a controlled shutdown of its Trinidad nitrogen facility on October 23, 2025. At the time, the company cited restrictions affecting access to port facilities as well as difficulties securing a reliable and economically viable supply of natural gas.
Production has remained suspended since that shutdown.
Nutrien had continued reviewing possible options for the Trinidad facility, including its long-term future, but Monday’s announcement confirms that the company has now chosen an indefinite shutdown.
Dean Perkins, Nutrien’s Senior Vice President responsible for upstream nitrogen and proprietary product operations, thanked the company’s Trinidad employees for their contribution and said Nutrien would manage the transition responsibly and safely.
The company said the decision will not affect its 2026 nitrogen sales volume guidance because its projections had already assumed that there would be no production from the Trinidad operation during the year.
Nutrien said it remains capable of meeting customer demand through its North American nitrogen operations, where the company is pursuing production improvements and expansion projects.
The development represents another significant challenge for Trinidad and Tobago’s downstream energy sector, where manufacturers depend heavily on a stable and competitively priced supply of natural gas.
While Nutrien has described the shutdown as indefinite, its announcement represents a significant change from the controlled shutdown implemented in 2025, when the future of the Point Lisas operation was still being reviewed.
Nutrien has not described Monday’s announcement as the closure of every company activity in Trinidad and Tobago. The confirmed decision relates specifically to its Trinidad Nitrogen operations at Point Lisas.