Minister of Energy and Energy Industries Dr Roodal Moonilal says the Government is continuing to work on the restart of the Pointe-a-Pierre Refinery while ensuring the process complies with the laws governing the sale of State assets.
Speaking to the media at the Debe Public Library after reading to students of Barrackpore ASJA Primary School to mark International Literacy Day 2026, he said there is significant interest in the refinery, including from major Indian companies.
“We are working day and night on that matter and we are sort of ticking the boxes to ensure that we follow the law and we follow all the rules and regulations pertaining to sale assets of State enterprise and so on. And we are following that and we have of course enormous interest. Just yesterday I met in a farewell courtesy meeting with the outgoing High Commissioner to India. We discussed that as well and the participation and interest of giant Indian companies in the petrochemical industry in Trinidad and Tobago and working alongside the State partners, Paria, Heritage, in particular, as it relates to the oil and gas sector.”
The Minister also welcomed Touchstone Exploration’s announcement of an expansion in gas production, describing it as “very good news”.
He also highlighted progress on the East Coast, with a major milestone reached on the Manatee gas project.
“I can give you the snippet that where I’m going now is really to participate in a short programme to commemorate the completion of the jacket and the piling for the Manatee platform and that is a major, major point that has to now sail away to the 100 kilometres off the East coast of Trinidad for that platform.”
Minister Moonilal says the progress on Manatee signals increased gas production as the project moves closer to becoming a reality.