Dr Thackwray “Dax” Driver was all smiles at the end of the second day of TT Energy Conference 2025, the major part of the conference held from February 10-12 at the Hyatt Regency in Port of Spain.
Speaking to an audience of energy-sector professionals and stakeholders, Driver, the Energy Chamber CEO summed up his thoughts on the overarching theme of the conference.
He explained that he usually meditates on statements and quotes that stick with him, which would describe the conference for him in a nutshell.
This year he took a comment from one of the members who posted on Linked-in during the conference.
“It starts with the quote: ‘Reports of my death are gravely exaggerated.’ It’s a quote from Mark Twain.
“I think that perhaps sums up my view on this conference. That the reports of the death of TT’s energy sector are gravely exaggerated.”
Driver was not the only one to express his confidence in the sector. From the Prime Minister, to the Minister of Energy, Stuart Young, and several panellists, almost every stakeholder in the energy sector spoke of how well-developed the industry is.
Based on the comments and conversations at the conference it was clear that despite the criticism coming from different areas, those in the energy sector believe it not only has life but is poised to flourish in a few years.
Signs of life
A confident Young, in his keynote address on February 10, said TT’s activities in the exploration and production of crude oil and condensate are anticipated to see growth.
He shared statistics saying as of 2024 TT produces an average of 50,357 barrels of oil per day but expects it to leap to 81,773 barrels a day in the next three years.
“The increase in production will be driven substantially by the increase in condensate, primarily from bpTT’s Cypre and Ginger gas fields.
He added that bpTT’s joint venture with EOG in the Mento and Coconut gas fields will add to condensate production.
[caption id="attachment_1138715" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Energy Chamber CEO Thackwray Driver, centre, alongside bpTT president David Campbell during the TT Energy Conference 2025, Hyatt Regency, Port of Spain on February 11. - Photo by Faith Ayoung[/caption]
Natural-gas condensate, also called natural-gas liquids (NGL), is a low-density mixture of hydrocarbons that are present in the raw natural gas produced in many fields.
He added that oil production will increase owing to Heritage’s new drilling projects and workovers (replacing hardware to extend the life of oil wells), pointing out a four-well drilling campaign for the Soldado East field, offshore on the southwest coast of Trinidad.
Oil was first discovered there in 1953 and first production began in 1957.
He added that Perenco is expected to increase production with its new 37 km, 10-inch pipeline from the Teak Alpha, a platform in the Teak field off Trinidad’s southeast coast.
“We have also been putting pressure on Heritage to partner with those companies in the industry that have the ability, experience, equipment,
