Caption: Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar with energy officials
PRIME Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar says the granting of the new Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) licence linked to the Dragon gas project is “fresh starting point” and a major step toward strengthening Trinidad and Tobago’s energy security.
In a statement Friday, said her recent discussions in Washington with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio deepened cooperation and advanced mutual interests.
She thanked Rubio for “helping to reopen this critical pathway for progress,” adding that the licence reflects her government’s “dedication, diplomacy, and determination.”
“The people of Trinidad and Tobago, the United States, and Venezuela all stand to benefit from the Dragon Gas Agreement, which represents a win for regional partnership, energy security, and economic growth,” she said, pledging to “work tirelessly to secure further success.”
The Dragon field, located in Venezuelan waters near the maritime border with Trinidad and Tobago, has long been seen as a potential source of gas for the country’s petrochemical and LNG industries but has been constrained by U.S. sanctions on Venezuela. OFAC licences provide case-by-case authorisation for transactions that would otherwise be restricted.
Persad-Bissessar said her government also met on Thursday with senior representatives of BP Trinidad and Tobago (BPTT), Proman, and Woodside to explore new collaboration. Those talks, she noted, reaffirmed the energy sector’s role as “the backbone of our economy and a key driver of national revenue and development.”
According to the Prime Minister, the focus now is not only on sustaining production but also on “creating new pathways for innovation, diversification, and sustainable growth,” including measures to reinforce energy resilience, expand investment, and generate jobs.
“By building and maintaining these vital international partnerships, my Government is ensuring that Trinidad and Tobago continues to harness its energy resources strategically and responsibly,” she said. “We are securing a stronger and more prosperous future for all.”
