Despite circulating rumors of a delay to development, energy giant Shell and Trinidad and Tobago’s National Gas Company (NGC) have publicly reaffirmed that the flagship Aphrodite offshore natural gas project remains on schedule, with the 2027 target for first production still firmly in place.
In a recent phone interview with local media, NGC Chairman Gerald Ramdeen pushed back against claims the project had stalled, noting that while specific negotiation details remain bound by non-disclosure agreements, all involved parties remain fully committed to hitting the agreed production timeline. “NGC stands ready to move forward with executing the Aphrodite project alongside Shell on the mutually agreed terms, effective immediately, as we prioritize advancing Trinidad and Tobago’s national energy agenda,” Ramdeen stated. He added that NGC is even prepared to support Shell in securing a new rig slot for the project, despite the original contracted rig being released months prior, framing the state-owned firm as a dedicated partner in strengthening the country’s long-term energy security.
Ramdeen also revealed that ongoing negotiations between NGC and Shell across multiple joint projects, including Aphrodite, have already made substantial progress. While commercial confidentiality prevents the release of specific terms, he confirmed that final technical details of the talks are expected to be finalized in the near future. He also highlighted that the current national administration has updated NGC’s negotiating framework to align with widely accepted global standards, designed to balance risk and reward more equitably across all stakeholders and deliver tangible benefits to Trinidad and Tobago’s citizens.
In a separate emailed statement to the *Express*, Shell echoed Ramdeen’s confirmation, clarifying that while the project has not stalled, the initial contracted rig was released, and commercial negotiations are still ongoing. “We are unable to share further details as they are commercially confidential,” the company added.
The Energy Chamber of Trinidad and Tobago, which was also approached for comment, framed the project as an active, high-priority opportunity, noting that Shell has confirmed discussions remain ongoing. The industry body also provided critical context for the current negotiation phase, pointing out that the Aphrodite project passed a positive final investment decision in 2025 and is projected to deliver roughly 100 million standard cubic feet of natural gas per day. This new supply comes at a critical juncture for Trinidad and Tobago, which has struggled with a years-long steady decline in domestic natural gas output that has already cut into LNG exports at Atlantic LNG and limited feedstock access for the country’s petrochemical sector.
The Chamber explained that the current period of negotiation reflects the inherent realities of developing gas resources in a maturing basin. Unlike the large, low-cost discoveries of past decades, new production today typically comes from smaller fields that require more complex technical work and carry higher price tags. Aligning commercial terms between upstream producer Shell and NGC, which serves as the country’s official gas aggregator, requires careful balancing of all parties’ priorities, and negotiation pauses are a normal, industry-standard part of project development, the body added.
Placed in the broader context of Trinidad and Tobago’s energy landscape, the Aphrodite project is a core pillar of the country’s national gas supply strategy, which also includes prospective developments like the Dragon field and cross-border energy collaboration with Venezuela. The Energy Chamber reaffirmed its commitment to facilitating constructive dialogue between Shell and NGC to build commercial frameworks that appeal to international investors, remain viable for domestic downstream industries, and align with the country’s long-term goal of maximizing value from its domestic natural gas reserves.
First discovered in 2022, the Aphrodite field is expected to reach peak production of roughly 18,400 barrels of oil equivalent per day, equal to 107 million standard cubic feet of gas per day, once operations launch in 2027, following all required regulatory approvals. Shell will operate the project with a 100% working interest under the Block 5a and Block E Production Sharing Contracts. Development plans call for a new single subsea tieback connected to existing infrastructure in the Barracuda subsea network, with gas routed through Shell’s Dolphin A platform for delivery to both domestic and international markets.
For Shell, the Aphrodite project is a key component of its broader corporate strategy to solidify its position as a global leader in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) sector, with a target of growing annual LNG sales by up to 5% through 2030. The company’s 2025 LNG Outlook projects that growing economic activity across Asia will drive a 60% increase in global LNG demand by 2040, underscoring the long-term market opportunity for new production projects like Aphrodite.