Dr. The Honourable Roodal Moonilal is Trinidad and Tobago’s Minister of Energy and Energy Industries and the Member of Parliament for Oropouche East. Sworn in on 3 May 2025, he leads policy for an energy sector that spans oil and gas production, liquefied natural gas exports through Atlantic LNG and gas-based petrochemical plants at Point Lisas.

Moonilal holds a BSc (Hons) in Government from the University of the West Indies, an LLB from the University of London, and a Master of Arts in Labour and Development and a PhD in Development Studies from the Institute of Social Studies in The Hague, as well as a Legal Education Certificate from the Hugh Wooding Law School. Earlier in his career he lectured in industrial relations and human resource management at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, headed education, research and training at the All Trinidad Sugar and General Workers Trade Union, and was Director of the Policy Monitoring Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister.

He first served in Parliament as a Government Senator, with ministerial responsibilities in labour, manpower development and industrial relations, and was elected to the House of Representatives in 2002. Moonilal chaired the Public Accounts Committee from 2007 to 2010 and served in the Cabinet from 2010 to 2015, including as Minister of Housing and the Environment and as Leader of Government Business in the House of Representatives. He was re-elected for Oropouche East in the 2025 general election before his appointment to the energy portfolio.

As energy minister, Moonilal’s priorities include attracting upstream exploration and production investment, raising oil and gas output and positioning Trinidad and Tobago as a regional energy hub. He has promoted the Government’s Energy Accelerator Hub, which is designed to shorten approval times for energy projects while maintaining health, safety and environmental standards, and he meets regularly with operators on near-term production. He has stressed that the country’s natural resources should be monetised for the benefit of its citizens.