A study by Dr Ter­rence Far­rell has found that the sus­tain­abil­i­ty of the down­stream petro­chem­i­cal sec­tor is un­der threat be­cause of un­com­pet­i­tive nat­ur­al gas prices.

Dr Far­rel pre­sent­ed his year long study of the coun­try’s down­stream sec­tor this morn­ing.

The econ­o­mist said nat­ur­al gas short­ages and price led to a re­duc­tion in methanol and am­mo­nia pro­duc­tion and loss of jobs in the sec­tor. He pre­dict­ed that un­less there is a change in pol­i­cy the sec­tor will get to a point of no re­turn and there will be a col­lapse of the Point Lisa’s In­dus­tri­al Es­tate.