Opening up Trinidad's tar sands
The island holds large bitumen reserves. The head of a company wanting to develop them says the resource could help fix the country’s energy-import problem
Trinidad and Tobago's energy economy is in a parlous state. It imports about four-fifths of the oil it uses, and natural gas reserves-the state's key energy earner-continue to fall steeply. In 2015, they dropped by almost 8% compared with the previous year. It's vital that the country find new hydrocarbon resources to plug this gap, and we think large reserves of oil sands offer an answer. The government is aware of the problem. To stop the decline its aim is to oversee a rise in conventional oil output. It estimates, for example, that the country's deep waters could hold between 3.1bn and 8.2bn barrels of oil in place. Oil and gasfields found in deep-water areas off Trinidad's eastern and n
Also in this section
28 April 2026
The key energy player faces balancing regional routes, political complexities, and creating a clear strategic vision for energy security
24 April 2026
The European Commission’s response to the Middle East crisis is to double down on its transition strategy, with plans for a new target on electrification
24 April 2026
A major new discovery by Eni and BP that can likely be fast-tracked to production is welcome news for Egypt as it scrambles to plug a widening supply gap and deal with rising import risks
24 April 2026
Countries in the region are turning to the cleaner-burning fuel for power generation, driving demand for imports
