By Stephen Cummings
Caribbean Net News Trinidad and Tobago Correspondent
Email: stephen@caribbeannetnews.com

PORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD:  More oil and gas reserves may eventually be added to the Trinidad and Tobago energy sector, following government approval for several foreign companies to explore and produce oil and gas from nine onshore, offshore and deepwater blocks.

Last year, government invited tenders for the exploration and production of 11 blocks. Eight onshore/nearshore and three shallow marine blocks.

Eight more blocks located in the deep Atlantic off the coast of Trinidad and Tobago were also put out for tender.

Eleven companies, either singly or as consortia, tendered fourteen bids for eight of the blocks, with no bids for three, while only one company tendered for one of the deep water blocks.

Trinidad and Tobago's Energy Minister Dr Lenny Saith said an assessment will now have to be conducted on the other seven deepwater blocks that did not receive any bids.

He also said two companies tied in their bid for one of the nine onshore/nearshore and shallow marine blocks.

According to Saith, government expects to conclude negotiations and/or discussions with the companies within the next three months.