PRIME Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has congratulated acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez on the historic signing of licences for the exploration of hydrocarbons in Venezuela’s Loran Phase 2 development and the Plataforma Deltana area.

Persad-Bissessar noted that Trinidad and Tobago stands to benefit from Venezuela’s progress with these energy deals.

Rodríguez, in a social media post, announced that, after 23 years of inactivity, Venezuela is moving forward with the development of the giant cross-border Loran gas field, adjacent to Trinidad and Tobago’s Manatee field. Phase 1 was licensed to Shell, while Phase 2 agreements were signed with bp, XRG and UCC Holding.