Trinidad and Tobago’s Energy Minister Roodal Moonilal used his day-two address at the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo in Georgetown to acknowledge, as he said, missed opportunities to align Trinidad and Tobago’s energy agenda with Guyana and Suriname.
He was at the time pitching Port of Spain as a ready industrial partner for their petroleum and gas development.
“It is with a sense of regret that I address you with the belief that over the recent past, we have not been able to conduct business, to integrate our strategies, to work with the government and people of Guyana in a way that our Prime Minister… has now mandated upon entering office on April 2025,” Moonilal said.
He said the new administration has been directed to deepen engagement with Guyana and Suriname and to pursue closer regional collaboration in policy and development. Moonilal proposed a standing mechanism for coordination among energy ministers and their technical teams, saying the region needs more regular engagement so strategies and investment plans are aligned.
“…maybe the time has come that we institute some type of forum where ministers of energy and their respective teams can meet more regularly to collaborate, to work together on investment policies, strategies, so we do not duplicate,” he said.
He then laid out what he described as Trinidad and Tobago’s advantages as a partner, pointing to energy infrastructure, industrial capacity and downstream facilities already in place.
“We [have] extensive energy experience, infrastructure and an industrial base,” he said.
Moonilal said Trinidad and Tobago’s existing petrochemical and liquefied natural gas footprint could help Guyana and Suriname move gas into value chains faster than building new plants from scratch. “This will enable rapid monetization of gas resources without the substantial investment required to build new plants,” he said.
He also flagged efforts to restart Trinidad and Tobago’s refinery, which he said was closed in 2018. He told the conference the facility would need a regional crude supply if it returns to service.
“We are indeed encouraged to work with the government of Guyana and other delegates and other entities present at this energy conference to advance the reopening of the refinery,” Moonilal said.
Hydrocarbons have been the backbone of Trinidad’s economy, but years of dwindling resources have resulted in a slump. Trinidad is now attempting to rebuild its energy sector and is on the hunt for new resources. There are also signs of hope.
ExxonMobil was recently awarded Trinidad’s first ultradeepwater block, TTUD-1, east of the country and north of Guyana’s Stabroek Block. If successful, such discoveries could open a new chapter for Trinidad’s energy industry. Though derailed several times, Trinidad could also tap its shared resources with Venezuela.
