T&T to seek out gas development opportunities with Guyana – PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar

– among raft of new measures announced since being sworn-in

Newly sworn in Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister (PM) Kamla Persad-Bissessar has announced a number of sweeping changes, from strong security measures such as ‘stand your ground’ laws and legislation to bring firearm ownership to law abiding Trinidadian citizens, to potential gas development collaboration with Guyana.

She made these announcements following the swearing in of her cabinet, noting that she has already instructed the newly appointed Minister of Energy, Dr Roodal Moonilal, to explore what opportunities exist between the two countries.
“Always our energy sector has been the mainstay. We have one of the oldest oil industries in the world. So, we have that competitive advantage, which we can use to market to CARICOM neighbours right here and of course, further afield.”
“But my Minister of energy has been mandated from day one, let’s explore the offer being made by Guyana to bring gas to Trinidad and Tobago,” she said, to loud clapping from the audience. She also revealed that with Suriname being an energy producer, they will also explore their options there too.
During her swearing in ceremony, the PM had also signaled the new direction that would be charted when it comes to Trinidad’s economy. According to her, they would not only rebuild their economy, but also diversify their revenue streams… a path Guyana is already well and truly on, with the view of avoiding the Dutch disease.
“I know we have to be strategic. We have to be inclusive. We have to be dedicated and we have to be focused on becoming the best versions of ourselves. This day starts the journey to rebuild our economy, restore our security, revolutionise our access to technology, diversify our revenue streams and renew our people’s faith and confidence, to propel us forward,” she had said.
Trinidad and Tobago has been seeking collaboration with other countries when it comes to energy security. However, the former Keith Rowley People’s National Movement (PNM) Government had gone as far as to ink a deal with Venezuela to explore for gas, despite Venezuela’s border controversy with Guyana and United States (US) sanctions.
The Dragon gas field project, was to be developed in Venezuelan waters, undertaken by Trinidad’s state firm National Gas Company (NGC) and SHELL. A 30-year license, issued in December 2023, had granted Shell and NGC the rights to produce the gas and export it to Trinidad.
However just last month, it was announced that the US Government had killed the project by revoking the licences Trinidad and Tobago had been granted for the Dragon and Manakin-Cocuina cross-border gas fields.
The licences had previously been issued under the then President Joe Biden administration, by the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Since his return to office, US President Donald Trump has taken a more hardened line to Venezuela, amid the loss of democratic rights for the Venezuelan people by the Nicolás Maduro regime and breaches to agreements Venezuela had made to ensure free and fair elections last year.
Guyana and Suriname have meanwhile been already holding talks on the potential collaboration between the two neighbouring countries to jointly develop their respective natural gas resources. President Dr Irfaan Ali has always touted a regional energy corridor as Guyana moves to monetise its gas resources, which will be an independent project from the model Gas-to-Energy (GtE) initiative that is currently under construction at Wales, West Bank Demerara (WBD).
The GtE Project comprises a Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) facility and a 300-megawatt (MW) power plant utilising the rich natural gas from the Liza Fields in the Stabroek Block, offshore Guyana. US energy firm, Fulcrum LNG Inc, was selected to work in a tripartite arrangement with the Guyana Government and ExxonMobil to develop a potential gas project.
In the Stabroek Block, which US oil major ExxonMobil and its co-venturers are operating, some 17 trillion cubic feet of gas has already been found with the Pluma and Haimara wells being proven gas fields. The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government is seeking to develop this gas.