Energy Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal tells TV6 News that the Government is "pleased that Shell has progressed the Aphrodite project to Final Investment Decision."
And Dr Moonilal says Shell's announcement and the recent announcement by bpTT of first gas from the Mento joint Venture with EOG are "good blessings" that indicated a new level of confidence those energy giants have in this country
00:00TV6 News contacted Energy Minister Dr. Rudal Munilal on Wednesday about the announcement by Shell Trinidad and Tobago Ltd. on Tuesday regarding an undeveloped gas field in the East Coast Marine Area or ECMA in Trinidad and Tobago discovered in 2022.
00:16We are pleased that Shell has progressed the Aphrodite project to a final investment decision. We are also pleased with the stated timeline of the project which aims to realize first gas by 2027 at a rate of approximately 107 million cubic feet per day.
00:36Shell said that the development of the Aphrodite field remains subject to receipt of all applicable regulatory approvals.
00:44The new natural gas development project is important as it helps counter the sustained decline in production from the maturing reservoirs in the Shell-operated East Coast Marine Area.
00:59Our ministry and its role as regulator will work with Shell to ensure the safe and timely completion of this project.
01:06Shell Trinidad and Tobago quoted its senior vice president and country chair as having said that by increasing the gas supply to Atlantic,
01:14LNG, the project will not only serve to fortify the domestic gas market, it will also boost the local petrochemical and power generation industries.
01:25We are extremely pleased that Shell has taken this decision because it suggests that there is now a sort of renewed confidence in the economy and in the future gas production in Trinidad and Tobago.
01:39Shell's announcement about the Aphrodite gas field occurred less than a week after BPTT announced the first supply of natural gas from a joint venture development with EOG Resources Trinidad Limited off Trinidad's southeast coast on May 29.
02:05Minister Munilal met with a delegation from BPTT on May 29.
02:10TV6 News asked Dr. Munilal about these recent announcements where confidence in local oil and gas exploration is concerned.
02:18I believe in the last couple of weeks we have been receiving good news and good blessings.
02:26As you know, BPTT and EOG also announced the first gas from Mento.
02:33We are extremely pleased with that.
02:36This decision by Shell, of course, does indicate a new level of confidence in Trinidad and Tobago as an oil and gas province.
02:44Former Prime Minister Dr. Kifu Ali said on May 29 that the PNM administration he led worked assiduously to ensure the success of the Mento project.
02:54The PNM was in office from 2015 until it lost the 2025 general election on April 28 to the UNC-led coalition of interests.
03:02Minister Munilal said in reference to the 2010-2015 UNC-led People's Partnership Administration that Mento represents the culmination of many years of work by BPTT and EOG,
03:15including seismic surveys done some 10 years ago, which led to an exploration well that was drilled in the first quarter of 2020.
03:23Now, in 2025, Dr. Munilal will be leading the Energy Ministry's next effort towards addressing Trinidad and Tobago's natural gas shortfall.
03:33We are hoping that we will manage the next bid rounds properly for both shallow and deep water exploration,
03:41and at the end of that we will also have some very good news to share.
03:45According to the Energy Ministry's website, the last deep water competitive bidding round was opened on January 27 of this year,
03:53with the deadline for submission of bids being noon on July 2, 2025.
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