PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC—The Trinidad and Tobago government is predicting an increase in the average natural gas output for this year, confirming increased output in July and August after the output plunged in June.
In a statement, the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries (MEEI) said it has taken note of recent reports regarding natural gas production and is advising that natural gas production for June 2024 was impacted by maintenance activities conducted by three of the major upstream gas producers, resulting in a 22 percent reduction in production compared to the previous month.
It said this decrease in natural gas production was transparently reflected in the Consolidated Natural Gas Monthly Bulletins for the period January-June 2024.
“This maintenance activity, undertaken by significant energy players bpTT, Woodside, and Shell, was planned a year in advance and is essential to compliance with government regulations.
“Among these activities were turnarounds, which are proactive measures to ensure the safety of all personnel on the respective facilities as well as the optimization of processes aimed towards improving production and overall efficiency,” the statement said.
The ministry said that the decrease in natural gas production was sheltered within the natural gas value chain by planned turnarounds at Train IV at Atlantic LNG, Point Lisas Nitrogen Limited, and the Urea plant at Nutrien Ltd for June 2024.
The MEEI further advised that, with the completion of these activities, preliminary data shows that natural gas production for the month of July 2024 increased to 2.3 BCF/D and further increased to 2.7 BCF/D in August. Production for Q4 2024 is projected to average 2.5 BCF/D.
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