ENERGY Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal expressed optimism over the government's efforts in energy diplomacy to seal a deal on the Dragon gas project with Venezuela.

He made the comment in a WhatsApp voicenote replying to former prime minister Stuart Young's social media post, which claimed Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar was incorrect in claiming that Trinidad and Tobago has a licence from the US Treasury's Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) to exploit gas in the Dragon field (all pending the agreement of the Venezuelan government).

Moonilal retorted by saying Young should stay quiet, as sensitive talks were underway.