PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC):

Energy Minister, Dr. Lenny Saith, told the country Friday that Trinidad and Tobago now has only 12 years of natural gas left to supply its multimillion-dollar gas-based projects but he said there was no need for panic.

He admitted, however, there is need for "concern", adding that the country needs to get more of the natural gas that is its main source of revenue into production in a hurry.

The Energy Ministry said an audit showed, at the present rate of production, there would only be enough gas to last until 2019, and told the media in Port-of-Spain on Friday that the audit conducted by the Houston-based firm Ryder Scott for the past two years was not a doomsday prediction.