Trinidad and Tobago’s first environmental clearance for ultra-deepwater exploration is being framed by the Ministry of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development as a strategic step toward opening a new offshore frontier.
The Environmental Management Authority (EMA) has issued a Certificate of Environmental Clearance (CEC) to ExxonMobil Trinidad and Tobago Deepwater Limited for a 3D seismic survey across 8,825 square kilometers in Block TTUD-1, located off the country’s east coast.
The Ministry said this is the first CEC granted for hydrocarbon exploration activity in Trinidad and Tobago’s ultra-deepwater marine area.
According to the Ministry, the ultra-deepwater block represents an expansion beyond the country’s mature shallow and deepwater gas provinces, where declining production has increased the urgency to identify new resource potential. Ultra-deepwater acreage remains largely unexplored, but is viewed as a longer-term opportunity that could support future energy security and revenue generation.
The CEC was formally handed to ExxonMobil’s in-country representative, Alex Almandoz, during a press conference at the Planning Ministry on December 29, 2025.
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Planning, Economic Affairs and Development Minister Kennedy Swaratsingh said projects of this scale require careful management to balance environmental protection with national development goals, and reaffirmed the Ministry’s responsibility for that oversight. He also pointed to the planned priority desk at the Town and Country Planning Division, intended to improve approval timelines for projects valued above TT$50 million.
Energy and Energy Industries Minister Roodal Moonilal credited the EMA for the turnaround of the application and said that efficient, technically robust approvals could generate about US$120 million per year for Trinidad and Tobago if applied across similar projects.
EMA Deputy Chairman Neeala Mongroo described the approval as a regulatory first.
“Today’s issuance of this CEC marks an important milestone for Trinidad and Tobago, as it is the first CEC granted for exploration activity in the country’s ultra-deepwater marine environment.”
She said the Authority’s decision followed “a thorough, science-based and transparent assessment process,” and added that the EMA will maintain strict oversight to ensure compliance with the certificate conditions and national laws.
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The Ministry said the application, submitted on September 29, 2025, underwent a detailed technical review, multiple requests for clarification, and inter-agency collaboration with the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries.
The assessment covered stakeholder engagement, survey methods and vessels, marine mammal and sea turtle protection measures, waste management, baseline environmental data, and potential impacts such as underwater noise and vessel traffic.
Following that process, the EMA concluded that the information provided was sufficient and that a full Environmental Impact Assessment was not required for the proposed seismic activity.
Trinidad and Tobago has been seeking to revive offshore exploration, including in ultra-deepwater areas, as part of efforts to attract new investment and bolster future oil and gas production.
