Gas output set to double as Casadura project advances—Moonilal
During a visit to the facility, Moonilal viewed oversized components shipped overnight from Houston by Touchstone Exploration. The equipment—some pieces measuring more than 50 feet in length and 15 feet in height—is destined for the company’s Casadura gas facility in the Ortoire Block, Rio Claro.“This will stabilise pressure along the National Gas Company-operated 20-inch pipeline from Biche to Guayaguayare and the Point Lisas Industrial Estate,” he said, noting the project is expected to come on stream by June.
According to the minister, the initiative forms part of a broader push by the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries to strengthen output and reliability in the gas sector.Moonilal said gas production and delivery have stabilised after more than a decade of underperformance, with overall output rising from an estimated 52,000 to 65,000 barrels per day. He added that the National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago has recorded its highest profit in 11 years at $3.2 billion.He also highlighted ongoing exploration activity, including what he said is the largest seismic data acquisition exercise ever undertaken locally by ExxonMobil, now about 60 per cent complete and targeting an August finish.
He also noted recent milestones, including the early start-up of bpTT’s Cypre Phase 2 project in November 2025, which is now producing approximately 45,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.He noted that from deepwater prospects to regional diplomacy, the Ministry has maintained a steady pace of activity across multiple fronts.“The return of ExxonMobil to Trinidad and Tobago’s energy landscape, alongside growing interest from Chevron and the China National Offshore Oil Corporation, reflects strong international confidence in the country as an investment destination,” he added.He noted that the Ministry played a key role in supporting bpTT’s Cypre Phase 2 development, which achieved first gas in November 2025 — ahead of its originally planned 2026 timeline. The Cypre field is now producing approximately 45,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, directly strengthening the country’s export capacity.