Guyana, T&T energy talks spark push to reopen refinery

Feb 23, 2026 News

…Trini minister positions country as key energy partner

From left: Suriname’s Minister of Oil, Gas, and Environment Patrick Brunings, T&T Energy Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal, Wood MacKenzie Chairman Simon Flowers and Guyana’s Minister of Natural Resources, Vikram Bharrat

Kaieteur News – The Government of Guyana has been engaging with the government of Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) to explore possible partnership for the restart of the twin-island’s oil refinery which was closed in 2018.

T&T’s Energy Minister, Dr. Roodal Moonilal attended Guyana’s Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo at the Guyana Marriott Hotel in Georgetown last week. He was part of a panel discussion alongside Guyana’s Minister of Natural Resources, Vikram Bharrat and Suriname’s Minister of Oil, Gas, and Environment, Patrick Brunings.

In his discussion, Moonilal outlined Trinidad’s role for many decades in the region’s energy landscape. He acknowledged missed opportunities in emerging energy destinations like Guyana, Suriname and others by the former Trinidadian administration and expressed regret that T&T with decades of experience in the hydrocarbon sector, has not conducted more business with Guyana, which discovered oil in 2015 and began production four years later.

However, the minister outlined that the Kamla Persad-Bissessar administration has now mandated that Trinidad deepen collaboration with its regional partners particularly, Guyana and Suriname.

“The time has come that we institute some type of forum where ministers of energy and their respective teams can meet more regularly to collaborate, to work together on investment policies, strategies, so we do not duplicate,” Minister Moonilal said.

Dr. Moonilal further outlined advantages of T&T as partner, noting the country’s existing gas infrastructure, which he noted could help Guyana and Suriname. He said, “This will enable rapid monetisation of gas resources without the substantial investment required to build new plants.”

Additionally, he noted that Guyana could play a key part in the restart of the Pointe-a-Pierre Refinery. “We are indeed encouraged to work with the Government of Guyana and other delegates and other entities present at this energy conference to advance the reopening of the refinery in Pointe-a-Pierre, Trinidad and Tobago,” he stated.

If the operations restart, he said the facility will require petroleum from regional partners. Notably, the oil refinery can process about 150,000 barrels of oil daily.

Meanwhile, Minister Bharrat, speaking on the restart of the oil refinery, noted, “So that is an area that we’ve already been engaging on with Trinidad and Tobago. To look at the possibility of having that refinery restarted, to have investors play a part in that as well too, who are working with us in Guyana that they too can work in Trinidad at the same time. And we’ve held several meetings together, yesterday, and we have a few more set up today.”

Guyana’s oil production from the Stabroek Block which is operated by ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL) is currently over 900,000 barrels per day from four developments — Liza Phase One, Liza Phase Two, Payara and Yellowtail. The other projects: Uaru, Whiptail and Hammerhead have also received government approval but are not yet producing. By the end of the decade, EMGL is expected to have eight project onstream.

Discover more from Kaieteur News

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

and Environment Patrick Brunings, gas, Suriname’s Minister of Oil, T&T Energy Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal, the Pointe-a-Pierre, Trinidad and Tobago, Wood MacKenzie Chairman Simon

Latest News