The Dragon field, located near the maritime border between Trinidad and Venezuela, is estimated to contain over four trillion cubic feet of natural gas. The field is planned to tie back via a 17‑km subsea pipeline to Trinidad’s existing facilities, with first-phase production expected to reach around 185 million cubic feet per day. After years of stalled progress due to sanctions and political uncertainty, the U.S. authorization marks a long‑awaited breakthrough. With Shell as operator, the project addresses Trinidad’s downstream gas-shortage challenge while navigating complex regulatory constraints, positioning the field as a potential game-changer for both national and regional energy supply. The development comes just months ahead of the inaugural Caribbean Energy Week (CEW) in Paramaribo, where regional energy cooperation, investment flows and infrastructural link-ups will be under the spotlight.

Trinidad & Tobago has long been the Caribbean’s dominant gas producer and exporter, with its LNG and petrochemical industries forming the backbone of the economy. Yet in recent years, domestic gas output has declined, straining feedstock supply for the flagship Atlantic LNG plant and downstream industries. Access to Venezuelan gas from the Dragon field could provide the feedstock stability the country urgently needs, allowing it to restore LNG production and preserve its position as a key supplier to global and regional markets.

For the wider Caribbean – much of which remains dependent on imported fuels and vulnerable to global price volatility – the revival of the Dragon project offers a potential anchor for deeper regional energy cooperation, whether through LNG exports to nearby islands, shared storage and processing infrastructure or future gas-to-power partnerships. If successfully executed, the deal could signal the beginning of a more connected Caribbean energy ecosystem where Trinidad acts as a processing and export hub and countries across the region benefit from more affordable and secure energy supply.

Looking ahead, Trinidad and its partners must translate this diplomatic breakthrough into commercial progress. Negotiations with PDVSA will need to clarify pricing structures, gas volumes and delivery timelines, all while satisfying U.S. regulatory conditions. The construction of new infrastructure linking the Dragon field to Trinidad’s systems will be another major milestone, as will the challenge of aligning technical, legal and political interests across borders.

Equally important will be the project’s timing. With CEW 2026 set to convene in Paramaribo next March – just weeks before the licence expires – the Dragon gas deal will serve as a focal point for discussions on regional energy integration, investment readiness and shared infrastructure. For Trinidad & Tobago, success could reaffirm its role as the Caribbean’s energy hub. For the region at large, it may represent the first tangible step toward collective energy resilience.

Join us in shaping the future of Caribbean energy. To participate in this exciting event contact sales@energycapitalpower.com.