Regional energy cooperation is back on the table. This time, there are talks between Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago on restarting a long-shuttered oil refinery, while the Dominican Republic is also signaling renewed interest in partnering with Guyana on local refining.

But, officials stress that no deals are signed, and everything remains in the discussion phase. 

Speaking on the Guyana Dialogue, Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat says the talks are still early, but momentum is building around the idea of regional collaboration. 

“The refinery has been closed for a number of years now. I think it’s probably about four to five years now, the refinery has been closed,” he said.

Trinidad, he says, is now actively examining options to bring the 140,000-barrel-per-day facility back online, but it won’t be cheap.

“However, Trinidad is looking at opportunities to, or the possibility, rather, to reopen that refinery, to put it back into operation. It requires some amount of investment, capital investment,” the minister explained.

At the centre of the discussion is crude supply. Guyana’s booming oil production is being considered as potential feedstock for a restarted refinery. But Bharrat is making one thing clear. 

“Nothing is agreed. No decision has been taken yet by either Guyana or Trinidad. It is just at a stage where we are still in talks.”

Meanwhile, another refining conversation is also unfolding. The Dominican Republic has reaffirmed its interest in partnering with Guyana on developing a small-scale refinery, following an earlier proposal for a 30,000-barrel-per-day facility here. But that plan is also under review. 

Bharrat points to one major hurdle, logistics. Guyana, he says, still lacks a deep-water port capable of handling large crude carriers, a critical requirement for any refinery project. Instead, government planners are eyeing Region 6, particularly Crab Island and Berbice, as a future energy hub, linking a possible refinery with a deep-water port and gas infrastructure.

The renewed interest comes as global oil markets face volatility, driven by geopolitical tensions, reigniting conversations around energy security and regional self-sufficiency.