00:00Oil giant Shell and the government have moved one step closer towards first gas of the manatee offshore field, which
00:06is scheduled for 2020 sabon.
00:08On Tuesday, Shell revealed that a critical phase in the construction process has been completed.
00:13Minister of Energy and Energy Industries Dr. Rudal Munilal spoke with our reporter Cindy Ragabao-Tikasingh at the Day Bay
00:20Library this morning,
00:21ahead of the event which took place at the Tofco compound in Libri around Middy.
00:27To commemorate the completion of the jacket and the piling for the manatee platform,
00:33and that is a major, major point that has to now sail away to the 100 kilometres off the east
00:40coast of Trinidad to that platform,
00:42and that suggests that manatee plus, which is really an increase on the previous gas production figures, that is well
00:48on the way to being a reality.
00:50The manatee gas field is the TNT portion of the Loran manatee field, which straddles part of the maritime border
00:57between TNT and Venezuela.
00:59It's being developed by Shell, with first gas projected to take place in 2027.
01:05And on Tuesday, Shell revealed the jackets and piles fabrication for the project is complete,
01:11marking a significant step forward for the manatee project and marks the successful completion of a critical phase of construction
01:19ahead of its offshore installation activities.
01:23Speaking at the event on Tuesday, Minister of Energy Dr. Rudal Munilal underscored the importance of manatee for the local
01:31economy,
01:32saying natural gas production could reach the equivalent of 104,000 barrels of oil per day at peak output.
01:41When gas supply tightens, the effects are felt throughout the economy.
01:45Increasing natural gas production is therefore not simply an energy sector objective, it is essential to this country's economic development.
01:55Manatee Plus will provide a major new long-term source of gas to the domestic market and Atlantic LNG.
02:01It will help offset declining output from mature fields, while making fuller use of infrastructure that we already have in
02:09place.
02:09He says it should be viewed as part of a wider effort by the government to revitalize TNT's energy sector
02:18and restore sustained growth in the economy.
02:21This is how we strengthen the supply base for countries and Atlantic energy.
02:26Support employment, this is how we create local businesses and improve this country's capacity to earn foreign exchange and revenues
02:36that are needed at this time.
02:39Cindy Raguba, Tika Singh, TV6 News.
02:43Minister.
Comments