On March 11, 2026, the Honourable Ernesto Kesar, Minister in the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries along with Mrs. Ava Mahabir-Dass, Permanent Secretary (Ag.) and Mr. Allan Tang, Planning Officer II (Ag.) met with Mr. Hilton John Mitchell, Honorary Consul of Trinidad and Tobago to Ghana during a courtesy call at the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries Head Office, International Waterfront Centre, Port of Spain.
The Honourable Minister expressed a warm welcome to Honorary Consul Mitchell on behalf of Dr. the Honourable Roodal Moonilal, Minister of Energy and Energy Industries and the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries. Mr. Mitchell provided an overview of his role as Trinidad and Tobago’s Honorary Consul to Ghana since 2008 and highlighted his work as Founder and Managing Director of Jonmoore International Limited, a project logistics and specialized transport company operating in West Africa. Honorary Consul Mitchell noted the company has been providing services to various sectors including the mining, power generation and oil and gas sectors in Ghana. He reaffirmed his continued commitment to advancing the interests of Trinidad and Tobago in Ghana and expressed interest in understanding the direction of the local energy sector, which he follows closely.
Discussions were centered on the opportunity for cooperation in areas such as knowledge exchange and capacity building in upstream operations including drilling, solar advancement and technological transfer as well as strengthening and potentially developing relationships with state enterprises such as the National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago, Phoenix Park Gas Processors Limited, Heritage Petroleum Company Limited and the National Energy Skills Center (NESC).
Minister Kesar highlighted the energy resources and more than a century of technical expertise residing in Trinidad and Tobago, noting that this augers well for collaborative opportunities to advance Ghana’s vibrant energy sector. The Honourable Minister also noted Trinidad and Tobago’s strong relations with countries such as the United States of America and Guyana as well as key global energy companies actively involved in the country’s energy sector. Minister Kesar noted that discussions are in progress regarding the refinery, with expressions of interest from various stakeholders and investors as the government is actively advancing efforts to restart operations.
Minister Kesar emphasized that the revitalization of the local energy sector as well as leveraging decades of expertise and institutional knowledge through strengthened partnerships and collaborative efforts with countries such as Ghana will play a key role in positioning Trinidad and Tobago to reclaim its role as the energy hub of the Caribbean.
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The Honourable Ernesto Kesar, Minister in the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries, with Mr. Hilton John Mitchell Honorary Consul of the Republic of T&T to the Republic of Ghana.
From Left: Mr. Allan Tang Planning Officer II, Mrs. Ava Mahabir-Dass Permanent Secretary (Ag.), The Honourable Ernesto Kesar, Minister in the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries, and Mr. Hilton John Mitchell Honorary Consul of the Republic of T&T to the Republic of Ghana.
The Honourable Ernesto Kesar, Minister in the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries, in discussions with Mr. Hilton John Mitchell Honorary Consul of the Republic of T&T to the Republic of Ghana, Mrs. Ava Mahabir-Dass Permanent Secretary (Ag.) and Mr. Allan Tang Planning Officer II.