00:00Head of the Energy Chamber, Dr. Thackeray Dax-Driver, says
00:04too much emphasis is being placed on the Dragon gas field,
00:08cautioning that the discussion around energy must be viewed through a broader lens.
00:15He points out that Trinidad and Tobago has the infrastructure, expertise and capacity
00:21to process natural gas, and he believes this strength should be strategically harnessed
00:27to drive national growth.
00:30Taking that for gas, making it into LNG to sell to international markets, taking that
00:34for gas, making it into petrochemicals, methanol and ammonia, which are petrochemicals which
00:39there's a demand for in the world.
00:40They're seen as important as part of the energy transition, that they are ammonia for fertilizers
00:47for feeding the world, but then also as a fuel, as a carrier for hydrogen, which is the whole
00:52other conversation, and methanol as a sort of very important petrochemical feedstock and
00:59also potentially a low carbon fuel as well.
01:01So there's a lot of interest in those.
01:03However, he says, the real challenge lies within the petrochemical sector, where the country
01:11continues to grapple with a low gas supply situation.
01:16Dr. Driver notes that some relief is expected by 2027 when the manatee gas field comes on
01:22stream, a development that could help stimulate economic recovery.
01:26Still, he cautions that one project alone will not transform the sector, emphasizing the need
01:34for sustained exploration and continuous activity to secure long-term growth.
01:40The big field, which I think, if we saw an investment decision around it, would be, I think, very
01:45good news and sort of a bit of a game changer would be the Calypso field.
01:49This is a large deep water gas field between Tobago and Barbados, so complicated, expensive
01:56to develop.
01:57If we could get a decision to have that field developed, I think that would give quite a lot
02:01of confidence that we could bring gas from deeper waters.
02:04Dr. Driver tells the Morning Edition, a relationship with Venezuela forms an important part of Trinidad
02:12and Tobago's energy future.
02:14He explains that Venezuela holds some of the largest natural gas reserves in the world, resources
02:21that have yet to be fully monetized.
02:23One clear opportunity, he says, lies in leveraging TNT's existing infrastructure to help bring that
02:31gas to market, adding that the drag and feed the project must be viewed within that broader
02:36context.
02:37An important part of Trinidad's future will be as a location to process Venezuelan natural
02:43gas.
02:44The politics of it are difficult and have remained difficult for a long time.
02:50But I think that the opportunity is there.
02:54There's international oil and gas companies who want to work with Trinidad on that opportunity.
02:59And I think we need to take advantage of that and find a way through this difficult situation,
03:07this political situation which exists.
03:09Dr. Driver says Trinidad and Tobago should strengthen collaboration with Grenada to explore
03:16and develop that country's potential natural gas resources.
03:20He believes such a partnership could support Grenada's need for reliable, affordable energy
03:26energy while also creating mutual opportunities for investment and resource sharing for Trinidad
03:33and Tobago.
03:34Nikul M. Romani, TV6 News.
03:37camarader
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