Trinidad pins hopes on Venezuelan gas

摘要

A couple of natural gas supply projects involving Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago are taking shape despite US financial sanctions on Caracas. Trinidad is pressing to wrap up the final details of the contracts, undeterred by its neighbour’s deepening economic crisis, which has been exacerbated by the sanctions as well as by political tensions. The gas will help make up shortfalls that have hit Trinidad’s gas-based export businesses, including the 14.8mn t/yr Atlantic LNG plant, led by Shell and BP, and its ammonia and methanol plants, all of which have been subject to supply restrictions for around five years. Venezuela, for its part, is eager to export gas so that it can generate desperately needed hard currency, while challenging the idea that it is increasingly isolated politically and economically.