OREANDA-NEWS. A continuing decline in Trinidad and Tobago's domestic crude production drove up imports by 31.2pc to 102,703 b/d in the first nine months of 2016, compared with the similar period of 2015, according to energy ministry data.

Russian crude accounted for the bulk of the increase in imports, displacing Colombian Vasconia grade.

The imports complement domestic crude production to supply the 168,000 b/d Pointe-a-Pierre refinery owned by state-run Petrotrin.

Trinidad produced 71,234 b/d in January-September, 10.7pc less than a year earlier.

Crude imports rose by 38.3pc to 78,356 b/d in 2015 compared with the year before.

Urals/Russian blend accounted for 31pc – or 32,102 b/d - of Trinidad's crude imports in the nine-month period of 2016, almost three times the imports of this blend for the corresponding period of 2015.

This was followed by Ogeundjo from Gabon with 21,383 b/d, 26pc less than a year earlier.

Imports of Russian Varandey grade jumped by 55pc to 17,162 b/d.

Gabon provided 10,782 b/d of Mendi crude, against 1,951 b/d in the 2015 period.

Trinidad had imported 15,693 b/d of Vasconia from Colombia in the first nine months of 2015, but imported none of this grade in the 2016 period.

Trinidad exported 26,555 b/d of domestic crude, mainly Galeota Mix, between January and September, 17.8pc less than the corresponding 2015 period.

Petrotrin is the country's biggest oil producer, accounting for 41,062 b/d in the nine-month period, 4.8pc less than a year earlier.

Trinidad's other crude producers include BP, EOG Resources, Repsol, BHP Billiton and Trinity Exploration and Production.

Trinidad, a major LNG exporter, has seen a parallel decline in domestic gas production, leading to a supply shortage that has impacted the country?s industrial sector.