Energy producer Shell is planning to commence natural gas production from the Loran-Manatee offshore gas field in 2027. The field is located across the maritime border of Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago, according to a statement made by Gerald Ramdin, Chairman of Trinidad's National Gas Company, to Reuters on Thursday.

Under the administration of interim President Delcy Rodríguez, Shell is accelerating the development of natural gas projects in Venezuela, particularly those involving cooperation with Trinidad. Trinidad requires new gas supplies to support its liquefied natural gas (LNG) and petrochemical projects.

Ramdin stated that Shell has informed the National Gas Company that it is working to achieve first gas from the joint field by next year. The company has increased the planned pipeline capacity for transporting gas to Trinidad from an initial 700 million cubic feet per day to 1 billion cubic feet per day.

"The gas will now be delivered to our Beachfield facility via a 32-inch pipeline, instead of the originally planned 24-inch pipeline," Ramdin added during an interview.

Previous reports indicated that Shell is in advanced negotiations to participate in the Loran field, which lies on the Venezuelan side, and may choose to develop it together with the Manatee field as a single, unified project. Development plans for the Manatee field on the Trinidadian side have progressed in recent years.

In an email statement, Shell said it anticipates beginning production at the Manatee field next year but has not yet made a final investment decision regarding the Loran field.

The Loran field holds 7.3 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves, while the Manatee field is estimated to contain 2.7 trillion cubic feet. The Loran field was previously explored by US producer Chevron under a Venezuelan contract for two blocks within the Plataforma Deltana offshore gas project, but that project remains idle. Chevron is currently relinquishing its interest in the Loran field while simultaneously negotiating for a new oil block in Venezuela's Orinoco heavy oil belt.