BP Prioritizes Manakin-Cocuina Over Kanikonna Amid Gas Supply Urgency
BP has decided to pause its Kanikonna project, a planned subsea natural gas development off the southeast coast of Trinidad and Tobago. This decision comes as the company focuses on advancing the Manakin-Cocuina cross-border gas development, which straddles the maritime boundary between Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela.
The move to pause Kanikonna is part of an ongoing review of BP's portfolio, aimed at maximizing production while staying within its 2026 budget. The company confirmed that it has been assessing various options in its portfolio and has decided to prioritize Manakin-Cocuina due to its sanctioned status and potential for faster delivery of gas volumes.
Gregory McGuire, an energy expert, dismissed concerns about the shelving of Kanikonna, noting that the project had never reached the level of formal approval required to be considered part of BP's committed pipeline. He argued that the decision reflects a logical prioritization of resources and emphasized the urgency of boosting gas supply in the Columbus Basin.