UK's Centrica signs Trinidad gas block deal

LONDON, July 9 (Reuters) - Centrica (CNA.L) signed an agreement on Wednesday with Trinidad's energy ministry to take ownership of an initital 65 percent interest in gas exploration Block 2(ab) off the east coast of the island, the parent company of British Gas said on Thursday.

The Petroleum Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (Petrotrin) will hold 35 percent, while Centrica has signed another agreement to pass on equity to Japan's NIKO Resources (NKO.TO) and Canada's Voyager Energy.

Centrica would then be left with a 29.25 percent equity stake in the block, subject to approval from the government of Trinidad and Tobago.

(Reporting by Daniel Fineren, Editing by Peter Blackburn)