Heritage Petroleum chairman Kurt Ramlal has resigned after being asked to step down last week, according to senior Government sources.
Guardian Media understands that Ramlal’s departure followed allegations of impropriety involving the allocation of Heritage Petroleum contracts.
Ramlal, a long-time supporter of the United National Congress (UNC), was among the first appointments made by the party after it assumed office and had served as chairman of Heritage since July 2025.
At least two senior Government officials confirmed Ramlal’s departure yesterday but declined to disclose the circumstances under which he was asked to resign.
While details surrounding his exit from the state-run company remain limited, Ramlal is the second UNC-appointed chairman in the energy sector to leave office this year.
In May, attorney Nyree Alfonso resigned as chairman of Paria Fuel Trading Company with immediate effect.
As chairmen of State enterprises are appointed by the Government, both Ramlal and Alfonso reported to Energy Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal.
During the UNC’s previous term in office between 2010 and 2015, Ramlal served as chief executive officer of the Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (Udecott) under current Works and Transport Minister Jearlean John.
Efforts to reach Ramlal for comment were unsuccessful yesterday.Energy Minister Moonilal also did not respond to phone calls.
As of yesterday, however, Heritage had not issued an official statement on Ramlal’s resignation. In fact, he was still listed as chairman on the company’s website.
According to his biography on the website, Ramlal has more than 25 years of executive leadership experience and “a proven track record at the helm of major national and international organisations across the energy, infrastructure, finance, and investment sectors.”
The biography notes that he served as chief executive officer of Udecott, where he oversaw major development projects intended to accelerate national development.
It also states that he held executive leadership roles at international energy company Shell and has served as chief executive officer and chairman of a private-sector organisation since 2016.
“He is uniquely poised with rigorous financial discipline, extensive operational knowledge in high-stakes environments like energy and aviation, and a strategic vision,” the biography states.
“He is distinctly positioned to provide exceptional governance and strategic direction as Chairman of Heritage Petroleum Company Limited.”
When announcing Ramlal’s appointment last year, Moonilal said he and his board had been tasked with reversing declining onshore oil production.
The remaining members of the board are Sherry-Ann Choonoo-Lalsee, Lincoln Dookhran, Richard Hansard, Khalid Hassanali, Joseph Lorant, Anthony Paul, Kamini Ramraj and Ronnie Sookoo.
Heritage appointed Kerry Rampersad as chief executive officer following the resignation of former CEO Erik Keskula in September 2025.
