Trinidad receives US support for cross-border energy projects

Sept 30 (Reuters) - Trinidad and Tobago has received U.S. support to develop the Dragon gas field in Venezuela, and it could include a license from the U.S. Treasury Department, both the U.S. government and Trinidad said on Tuesday.

The announcement followed a meeting between Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington.

Trinidad and Tobago has wanted to develop gas resources in U.S.-sanctioned Venezuela near the two countries' maritime border but was paused earlier this year after the initial U.S. licenses were suspended.

The U.S. in April revoked a license that permitted Shell SHEL.L and Trinidad's National Gas Company to develop the Dragon gas field off of Venezuela, despite sanctions targeting the government led by President Nicolas Maduro.

The U.S. supports the Trinidad government’s Dragon gas proposal and steps to ensure it will not provide significant benefit to the Maduro regime, Rubio said in a statement on Tuesday.

Shell's activities relating to Venezuela are conducted in strict adherence to all applicable laws, regulations and trade controls, including those of the U.S., the company told Reuters in response to the U.S and Trinidad and Tobago statements.