The timing places Trinidad and Tobago firmly within the investment conversation ahead of Caribbean Energy Week (CEW) 2027, taking place in Georgetown, Guyana from July 13–15. Bringing together governments, project developers, investors, financiers and industry executives, CEW will provide a platform to connect the capital and buyers needed to translate the Caribbean’s expanding gas resource base into commercially viable projects.

Feedstock Constraints Pressure Point Lisas Production

Operated by the Point Lisas Industrial Port Development Corporation, the Point Lisas Industrial Estate represents the country’s main petrochemical hub, featuring major methanol and ammonia production facilities. The sector remains heavily export-oriented, but production has been constrained by declining natural gas availability and persistent plant downtime.

Gas constraints have also taken capacity offline. Methanex idled its Atlas facility in 2024 following the expiry of its long-term gas contract and indefinitely idled the 860,000-ton-per-year Titan plant in July 2026 after failing to secure a new commercially viable supply agreement. With gas availability remaining the principal constraint on downstream utilization, restoring reliable feedstock supply will be critical to reviving idle capacity and supporting further petrochemical growth.

Recent Contracts Target Supply Shortfall

Recent gas contracts show efforts to provide greater feedstock to the domestic downstream sector. In September 2026, the National Gas Company (NGC) of Trinidad and Tobago signed commercial agreements with Shell for gas volumes from the Aphrodite project. The NGC also signed a binding Term Sheet in September to acquire a 50% of the volumes from the Coconut gas development. First gas for both projects is expected in 2027.

The deals follow similar contracts signed earlier this year, all of which aim to address shortfalls at key ammonia and methanol plants. The NGC signed contracts with Methanol Holdings to supply gas to support the company’s methanol operations at the Point Lisas Industrial Estate; with Trinidad Nitrogen Company Limited – one of the country’s longest-operating ammonia producers – to supply projects such as TRINGEN I and TRINGEN II; as well as with Point Lisas Nitrogen Limited to support anhydrous ammonia production. NGC Chairman Gerald Ramdeen recently highlighted that these agreements aim to preserve the country’s downstream sector, but underscored that more gas is necessary to support production resilience.

Upstream Projects Gain Traction

Upstream project advancements could provide further relief to Trinidad and Tobago’s constrained gas market. Shell’s Manatee development represents the largest near-term project, targeting first gas in 2027 from approximately 2.7 trillion cubic feet of recoverable resources.

bpTT is also advancing the Ginger development, a subsea project tied into existing Mahogany infrastructure and targeting first gas in 2027. Together with Aphrodite and Coconut, the projects could inject new volumes into the domestic system at a critical time for Point Lisas.

While natural decline means new production will not eliminate Trinidad and Tobago’s supply challenge, the emerging project pipeline strengthens prospects for greater downstream utilization and renewed petrochemical investment.

Global Disruption Creates a New Strategic Opening

Trinidad and Tobago’s petrochemical ambitions coincide with shifting global supply chains. The Middle East conflict has disrupted key maritime routes at a time when the region accounts for approximately one-quarter of global ammonia trade and almost 45% of methanol trade.

For Trinidad and Tobago, this strengthens the case for restoring petrochemical production and attracting new investment. With established infrastructure, significant production capacity and access to Atlantic markets, the country can offer international buyers greater supply diversification. CEW 2027 offers a platform to turn that advantage into new investment, commercial agreements and projects.

For more information, visit www.caribbeanenergyweek.com. To register for the event, visit, https://www.caribbeanenergyweek.com/attend and to sponsor visit, https://www.caribbeanenergyweek.com/sponsor.