An Environmental Impact Assessment commissioned for ExxonMobil’s proposed eighth oil project in the Stabroek Block warns that an uncontrolled oil spill could devastate Trinidad and Tobago and spread to twelve other Caribbean islands.

The assessment, conducted by Acorn International on behalf of ExxonMobil, examines the potential transboundary impacts of the proposed Longtail development. It identifies Trinidad and Tobago as the country with the highest probability of being affected, citing a 60 to 70 percent probability of condensate reaching at least a portion of its coastline during the wet season under both the most credible and maximum worst case discharge scenarios.

The document warns that sensitive coastal resources at risk include all of Trinidad’s eastern and southern mangroves, manatee habitat, marine turtle nesting beaches, and forest reserves from Redhead in the north to Guayaguayare in the south. Tobago’s coastline is identified as recording the highest probability of condensate stranding among the country’s shores, with potential damage to marine turtle nesting beaches, coral reefs, and seagrass meadows near the Mount Pleasant area. In a wet season scenario, oiling of the shoreline could begin within five days.

The assessment also identifies twelve additional Caribbean territories that could be affected, including Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Barbados, St. Lucia, Martinique, Dominica, Guadeloupe, Montserrat, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Barthelemy, Saba, and the United States Virgin Islands.

ExxonMobil has stated that implementing its Oil Spill Response Programme would significantly reduce transboundary impacts. The company noted that country-to-country communication in such an event would be handled through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the direction of the Government of Guyana.

The spill liability question remains before the courts. ExxonMobil is currently appealing a High Court ruling that ordered the company to sign an unlimited parent company guarantee to protect Guyana from spill costs exceeding its existing coverage. The company currently holds a U.S. $600 million oil spill insurance policy per event and a U.S. $2 billion guarantee for costs above that amount. Two citizens, represented by international lawyer Melinda Janki, argue that without an unlimited guarantee, Guyana would be liable for any damages beyond the U.S. $2.6 billion combined coverage.

The Longtail project is expected to produce 250,000 barrels of condensate per day and 1,200 million standard cubic feet of gas per day. Development well drilling is scheduled to begin in 2027, with installation of subsea components and the FPSO vessel planned between 2028 and 2031. The project is expected to operate for at least 30 years.

SOURCE: Kaieteur News, “Oil spill from Exxon’s 8th project could devastate T&T,” April 1, 2026