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EXHIBIT 31.1

CERTIFICATION UNDER SECTION 302 OF SARBANES-OXLEY

I, Ross G. Clarkson, certify that:

|1. | I have reviewed this annual report on Form 40-F of TransGlobe Energy
      Corp.;                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
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|2. | Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain
        any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
        necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under
        which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period
        covered by this report;
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|3. | Based on my knowledge, the financial statements,
        and other financial information included in this report, fairly present
        in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations
        and cash flows of the issuer as of, and for, the periods presented in
        this report;                       
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|4. | The issuers other certifying officer(s) and
        I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls
        and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e))
        for the issuer and have:                                                                                            
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| | a) | Designed such disclosure controls and procedures,
        or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under
        our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the issuer,
        including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others
        within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report
        is being prepared;
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| | b) | Evaluated the effectiveness of the issuers
        disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions
        about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as
        of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation;
        and                                                                                                   
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| | c) | Disclosed in this report any change in the issuers
        internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period
        covered by the annual report that has materially affected, or is reasonably
        likely to materially affect, the issuers internal control over financial
        reporting; and                                                                                
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|5. | The issuers other certifying officer(s) and
        I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control
        over financial reporting, to the issuers auditors and the audit
        committee of the issuers board of directors (or persons performing
        the equivalent functions):
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| | a) | All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses
        in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting
        which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the issuers ability
        to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
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| | b) | Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management
        or other employees who have a significant role in the issuers internal
        control over financial reporting.                                                                                                       

|Date: November 19, 2004 | s/s Ross Clarkson      
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|                        | Ross G. Clarkson       
|                        | Chief Executive Officer

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