The National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (NGC) and Shell Trinidad and Tobago Limited (Shell) have signed an amended Domestic Gas Sales Contract (DGSC) to incorporate a share of the natural gas volumes from the Shell-operated Manatee field once the project is sanctioned. The signing took place on September 22nd at Hilton Trinidad and Tobago Conference Centre, and was attended by The Honourable Stuart Young, Minister of Energy and Energy Industries, along with the principals of both signatory companies. The amended DGSC will entitle NGC to purchase gas produced from one of the country’s largest offshore fields, to supply to the downstream sector across the medium term.

In 2019, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago and the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela executed an agreement to allow each country to independently develop its share of hydrocarbon resources from the Loran-Manatee Gas field, which straddles the maritime border between Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela. Shell and NGC are both working assiduously to monetise this reserve – Shell as the operator responsible for development and production, and NGC as the entity that will facilitate receipt and processing of the gas via its Beachfield facility.

“This domestic gas sales contract is further evidence of Shell’s commitment to partnering with the Government of Trinidad and Tobago to achieve its goal of energy security.” said Eugene Okpere, Senior Vice President and Country Chair, Shell Trinidad and Tobago. “Today also marks a critical step toward enabling Shell’s next milestone of Final Investment Decision for the development of the Manatee project.”

Speaking at the event, NGC’s President Mark Loquan applauded the efforts made to realise this milestone agreement: “Manatee represents a significant resource for Trinidad and Tobago, and every step we take toward bringing this field online brightens our prospects for future domestic supply. Our teams have laboured to bring us to this point, and we acknowledge with deep gratitude the quantum of work delivered, as well as the impact it will have for our country. We do recognise that we have some distance to travel before we can access gas from Manatee, but we are committed to the outcome and optimistic that we can bring this project to fruition, in partnership with all stakeholders.”

 

Photo 1: L to R – Verlier Quan Vie, Vice President Commercial, NGC; Mark Loquan, President, NGC; Dr. Joseph Ishmael Khan, Chairman, NGC; The Hon. Stuart Young, Min. of Energy and Energy Industries; Eugene Okpere, outgoing Senior Vice President and Country Chair, Shell Trinidad and Tobago; Adam Lowmass, incoming Senior Vice President and Country Chair, Shell Trinidad and Tobago; Stephane Picarle, General Manager, Commercial, Shell Trinidad and Tobago