(Reuters) -Exxon Mobil could invest as much as $21.7 billion in Trinidad and Tobago if the energy major finds reserves in a large deepwater area it plans to explore for oil and gas in the Caribbean country, energy minister Roodal Moonilal said.

The official spoke on Tuesday at an event in Port of Spain to sign a production sharing contract with the company that will mark its return to the country.

(Reporting by Curtis Williams; Writing by Marianna Parraga; Editing by Mark Porter)