Dr. The Honourable Roodal Moonilal, Minister of Energy and Energy Industries and the Honourable Ernesto Kesar, Minister in the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries along with Ms. Karinsa Tulsie, Permanent Secretary (Ag.), Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries; and Mr. Marc Rudder, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Ag.), Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries met with Mr. Paul Baay, President and Chief Executive Officer, Touchstone Exploration (Trinidad) Limited; Mr. Scott Budau, Chief Financial Officer, Touchstone Exploration (Trinidad) Limited; Dr. Priya Maharaj, Director, Touchstone Exploration (Trinidad) Limited; and Mr. Xavier Moonan, Exploration Manager, Touchstone Exploration (Trinidad) Limited on 11 June 2025 at the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries’ International Waterfront Complex, Head Office, Port-of-Spain.
At the introductory meeting, Touchstone highlighted the company’s journey that was initiated with the successful award of an Exploration and Production Licence for the Ortoire Block, in the 2013 Onshore Bid Round. Since the award, first gas was produced in 2022 from Coho-1 and success continued in 2023 with first gas from Cascadura. Touchstone’s CEO emphasized the company’s growth and attributed its success thus far to local partnerships that contributed to the development of onshore gas processing facilities.
Dr. The Honourable Roodal Moonilal elaborated on the Government’s strategic approach to engagement with the energy sector, emphasizing the adherence to the Honourable Prime Minister’s principles of supporting the sector through enabling policies and remaining actively engaged and accessible. The Honourable Minister focused on the Government’s goal of ensuring that Trinidad and Tobago re-emerges as the energy hub of the region through the pursuit of the enhancement of our legacy infrastructure and further value creation through investment in our energy sector. Minister Moonilal thanked, Touchstone for its key role in onshore gas development and provided reassurance of the Government’s commitment to remaining accessible and promoting the ease of doing business within the energy sector.
Honourable Minister Kesar, recognized the efforts being made by the company to increase production and encouraged Touchstone to continue with the active pursuit of these potential resources. Minister Kesar also congratulated Touchstone on its localized approach to social responsibility and governance.
The Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries together with Touchstone remain committed to continuing to work together to enhance value from the Energy Sector through continued exploration and production, particularly in the onshore areas of the country.
From left to right: Mr. Xavier Moonan, Exploration Manager, Touchstone Exploration (Trinidad) Limited; The Honourable Ernesto Kesar, Minister in the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries; Dr. The Honourable Roodal Moonilal, Minister of Energy and Energy Industries; Mr. Paul Baay, President and Chief Executive Officer, Touchstone Exploration (Trinidad) Limited; Dr. Priya Maharaj, Director, Touchstone Exploration (Trinidad) Limited; and Mr. Scott Budau, Chief Financial Officer, Touchstone Exploration (Trinidad) Limited.