Buying local generates big benefits for Trinidad and Tobago

The Trinidad and Tobago team recently celebrated 20 years of production from the Angostura Field, reflecting on two decades of strong partnerships with local communities and businesses. And our Local Buying Program, established in 2021, is a key element of those partnerships.

Recognising that small local suppliers often face unique challenges – like limited access to commercial opportunities and capability development – the program aims to help bridge those gaps.

Procurement Advisor Elizabeth Walcott leads the program and points out that small local businesses face different challenges to those of a larger scale.

"Woodside has been targeting small local suppliers to benefit from our support through the procure to pay process," Elizabeth explains.

“The process is the complete cycle of ordering goods or services from a supplier and making payment for them and we aim to make that process as streamlined as possible.”

She adds: “We’re also making a difference by redirecting spend from established suppliers to smaller businesses, supporting their growth and long-term capacity.”

Since the Local Buying Program started it has delivered impressive results, including:

• TTD$40 million in purchase orders placed with small local vendors.
• Growth of small and micro suppliers, resulting in them graduating from the program. 

Today, the program proudly includes 50 businesses, one of which is Mainstream General Contracting, who were referred by the staff at our Terminal site in Guayaguayare – one of Woodside’s host communities.  Specialising in air conditioning units and repair services, we are currently in the third year of a fruitful collaboration with them.

Looking ahead, Elizabeth says she is excited to build on the success of the program.

“Our future plans are to identify and plug skill gaps which suppliers may have and provide them with up-skilling opportunities for scopes of work appropriate to smaller suppliers,” Elizabeth says. “We hope that these actions will give small local businesses a unique platform to develop.”

Beyond the Local Buying Program, Woodside also champions local content through our partnership with the Trinidad and Tobago Energy Chamber, supporting the annual Local Content Forum. Since 2012, we’ve proudly served as the event’s primary sponsor (formerly as BHP), after initiating the idea to bring operators and contractors together to foster collaboration and capability development.

The Angostura Field makes an important contribution to the economy of Trinidad and Tobago and Woodside is pleased, as the operator and participant in the development’s JV, to play a continuing role in the country’s development.