The government of Trinidad and Tobago is awaiting final approval of a pipeline project that will increase oil flow between the two states and the island of Barbados.

According to the Oil and Gas Journal, the Barbadian authorities are expected to give their seal of approval to the project in the near future. The state is also opening up 26 offshore oil and gas bidding licences as it looks to increase its oil output.

Currently, Barbados ships its oil to Trinidad and Tobago for refinement and then buys back petroleum products to meet domestic demand, as the island currently has not yet invested in the construction and training of workers needed to create a national refinery.

As Trinidad and Tobago await final approval from the project, the two islands are also pushing ahead with plans to build a new pipeline between them. It is expected to be operational by 2011.

The Petroleum Company of Trinidad and Tobago has also recently announced that it has entered into a new exploration and production contract with Bayfield, providing access to the Galeota block of the Trintes oil field.

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