Guyana’s temporary fuel shortage this month was a reminder that oil production and fuel security are not the same thing. Newsroom Guyana reported that the disruption left motorists questioning how shortages could emerge in one of the world’s fastest-growing oil producers, before the government said new shipments were on the way and urged the public not to panic buy. That has relevance for Trinidad and Tobago. The accompanying chart, based on Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries monthly bulletins, shows that the country has continued to import sizeable volumes of refined petroleum products since the refinery closure.
The most useful thing about gas transmission incident data is not simply whether the total number of incidents is rising or falling; it is what the data reveals about the causes of those incidents. The US Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) chart on onshore gas transmission pipeline significant incidents, shows that the largest contribution in 2010–2019 came from equipment failure, with smaller but notable contributions from material failure of pipe or wells, other outside-force damage, natural-force damage, incorrect operation, and excavation damage.
Disruption in the Strait of Hormuz is beginning to show up not only in energy prices but also in physical commodity flows, and that could carry mixed implications for Trinidad and Tobago. While crude oil flows have drawn the most attention, the disruption is also affecting other commodities moving through the Gulf, including LNG and fertilizer-related products.
Trinidad and Tobago’s natural gas sector could receive a meaningful boost from 2027 as regional cooperation gains momentum and a new wave of upstream projects led by bp and Shell moves towards first gas. These developments are expected to provide welcome relief to the downstream sector and improve feedgas availability for LNG operations. While they may not fully close the country’s supply gap, they create a stronger platform for growth and reinforce the importance of cross-border gas as part of a longer-term solution.
The latest Energy Services Sector Survey (ESSS), conducted by the Energy Chamber, reveals a decline in both the volume and value of business during the first quarter of 2026. According to the findings, 60% of respondents reported that the value of their business was lower than normal, while 56% indicated that their volume of business fell below typical levels.
Global carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) deployment is projected to expand significantly over the next decade, with the steepest growth expected before 2030. Based on project-level data from the International Energy Agency (IEA) CCUS Projects Database 2025, cumulative operational carbon capture capacity could rise from just over 100 MtCO₂ per year in 2025 to more than 1,200 MtCO₂ per year by 2030, and approximately 1,370 MtCO₂ per year by 2035, assuming currently announced projects come online as scheduled.
Methanol production remains a critical component of Trinidad and Tobago’s downstream energy sector, contributing significantly to manufacturing output, foreign exchange earnings, and employment. Leveraging its natural gas resources, the country has established itself as one of the world's leading exporters of methanol, with production largely oriented toward international markets. As a value-added, gas-based industry, methanol plays an important role in supporting industrial activity beyond the extractive industry.
Since the closure of the Pointe-a-Pierre refinery in 2018, Trinidad and Tobago has transitioned to exporting all of its domestic crude oil production to the international market. This shift resulted in an immediate and significant spike in export volumes.
Over the past few years there has been a great deal of discourse in Trinidad & Tobago about the opportunities to import natural gas from Venezuela to Trinidad for processing into petrochemical or LNG and re-exporting the final products to international markets. This continues to be a major area of interest and especially with the Dragon gas field.
"Workover" is a term used in the oil and gas industry to describe the maintenance and repair of existing wells. These interventions are undertaken to restore production in declining wells or to restart those that have ceased producing entirely. As such, they are a vital component of the oil and gas well lifecycle.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has been tracking final investment decisions (FIDs) for new LNG export projects across the world and has published liquefaction capacity additions through 2030. At present, liquefaction capacity is approximately 670 bcm/y but between 2025 and 2030 it is expected that more than 300 bcm/yr of new LNG export capacity is expected to come online from projects that have already reached final investment decision (FID) or are under construction, marking the largest wave of capacity additions to date.
Well completion is the critical final phase of oil and gas operations that prepares a newly drilled well for service. It is essential for economic viability, as it ensures the safe and efficient control and flow of hydrocarbons from the reservoir to the surface.
The international maritime sector is a vital engine for global trade, yet it is responsible for approximately 3% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, particularly CO2. This volume is significant, exceeding, for example, three times the total annual emissions of Trinidad and Tobago. The essential movement of goods via sea comes with a heavy carbon footprint that contributes directly to climate change.
While the nation’s petrochemical sector has long been synonymous with the production of ammonia, methanol, and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) maintains a crucial role in exporting several other key commodities that generate vital foreign exchange.
Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) is a major global player in the ammonia market, being one of the largest exporters of the commodity worldwide. In 2024, the country's eleven facilities, operated by four producers Proman, Nutrien, Yara, and Pt Lisas Nitrogen (PLNL) produced just over 4 million metric tons of ammonia. Proman is the largest producer, accounting for 38% of the nation's output, followed by Nutrien at 31%, Yara at 19%, and PLNL at 11%.
Over the past few weeks, we have highlighted the energy sector's contribution to the economy of Trinidad and Tobago (T&T). A vital area of this sector is the energy services subsector, which consists of the many local and foreign contractors that execute projects for the country's major operators.
The energy sector is the major contributor to the government’s taxation revenue stream. Over time, the energy sector’s contribution as a percentage of the total has been falling due to declining production and volatility in international pricing. Nevertheless, the sector is the highest taxed sector in the T&T economy. In fact, operations of upstream companies result in over 30 different taxes, levies, and fees. The ones that are unique to the sector are the Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT), Supplemental Petroleum Tax (SPT), and Royalties. Companies engaged in upstream operations in Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) are subject to a special fiscal regime, principally governed by the Petroleum Taxes Act (PTA).
Over the last 20 years, the revenue received by the central government from the energy sector has seen significant annual fluctuations. The general pattern has been that revenue received over the last 10 years (147 billion dollars) has been considerably less than the revenue received during the previous decade (236 billion dollars).
The Energy Chamber has long been a dedicated supporter of the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup. For the past decade, we've collaborated with our member companies and various NGOs to clean up beaches at Carli Bay in Couva, Vessigny Beach in La Brea and Quinam Beach, on the coast due south of Siparia. Over time, we've focused more of our efforts on Quinam Beach, which remains a beautiful southern Trinidadian gem, despite the significant trash accumulation it faces.
The University of the West Indies has seen lower enrolment for engineering degrees for both undergraduate and graduate programmes. Data from the University's Statistical Digests show that from academic year 2015 to 2024, enrolment fell by 38%. The enrolment of males fell by 34% while the enrolment of females fell fast, by 44%.
