Senior Multimedia Reporter
radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt
Energy Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal says Trinidad and Tobago should begin to feel the economic benefits of increased gas production and efforts to revive oil production by 2027, but has stopped short of describing the expected gains as another energy windfall.
Speaking to reporters yesterday at his constituency office, where he distributed school bags and stationery, Dr Moonilal said the country was entering an exciting phase, with developments in domestic gas production, regional gas supply and efforts to increase oil recovery.
He said the economic impact of increased gas supply should begin to be felt by 2027 as new gas molecules are brought on stream and monetised.
“This has been a very difficult year and it will continue to face challenges this year, 2026,” Moonilal said.
“But by 2027, we expect to have the expansion of gas, the molecules will reach and be monetised. So that by 2027, we expect that we will feel the economic effect of the expansion in supply.”
Moonilal said Government was also working with energy companies to increase oil production, which he described as important for revenue, foreign exchange and employment.
He said oil had become the “orphan child” of the energy sector over the past decade and the Government was now seeking investment in oil recovery and optimisation.
“Oil is a quick flip. You extract it and you sell,” he said.
Moonilal said efforts were also under way to repair and replace ageing offshore infrastructure, particularly along the south-western coast and the Soldado area.
He estimated that bringing the entire offshore infrastructure up to standard could cost more than US$1 billion.
According to Moonilal, Government inherited severely deteriorated infrastructure, including pipelines and connector bridges between offshore installations.
He said the condition of some infrastructure had resulted in frequent small leaks, creating health, safety and environmental concerns.
Moonilal also said the Government was working with Heritage Petroleum Company Limited, international partners and investors to determine how the necessary financing could be secured.
He said Heritage had already begun work on some projects and praised the company for completing them without accidents or lost-time incidents.
Moonilal also disclosed that the Government was in discussions with companies from the United States and Europe regarding investment in the upstream sector and the rejuvenation of onshore energy infrastructure. He said those discussions were continuing weekly.
Moonilal also pointed to developments involving ExxonMobil and BP. He said ExxonMobil was proceeding with seismic activities in its northeastern block and the Government expected an update once those activities were completed.
He noted that BP had secured a licence for the second phase of the Loran field, while Shell had been awarded the first phase, with gas expected to come onshore to Trinidad.
On the Pointe-a-Pierre refinery, Moonilal said there was no shortage of interested parties, noting discussions were held this week.
He also said Government planned to continue the Solomon Hochoy Highway Extension, which had stopped in Debe.
“We have to continue that. And I think Minister Jearlean John is working very, very hard on the process to ensure that the process is properly followed and that we’ll continue the highway as proposed initially,” he said.
The contentious Mon Desir to Debe leg of the Solomon Hochoy Highway extension project was effectively shelved and omitted when the project contract was reorganised and scaled back in 2015 under the People’s National Movement administration. Back in 2012, Dr Wayne Kublalsingh and the Highway Reroute Movement put up a challenge against the highway, saying it would cause extensive flooding in the community.
