Minister of Energy and Energy Industries, Dr Roodal Moonilal, says over 400 barrels of crude oil have been released into the environment following the suspected sabotage of a pipeline in Barrackpore.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday after addressing a Trinidad and Tobago Society of Petroleum Engineers Symposium on mature oil basins, he said a three-inch Renaissance Energy pipeline was deliberately cut, with approximately 10 feet of pipe removed.
“We believe that this was an act of sabotage. The estimated release is approximately 416 barrels of crude oil, impacting approximately 600 feet of an adjacent watercourse. Heritage immediately activated its incident command system, and Renaissance Energy isolated the affected pipeline by ceasing pumping operations 20 minutes later after discovery.”
Minister Moonilal indicated that about 50 barrels of the oil had been recovered up to Wednesday morning, but said no estimate had been made as to the financial losses to Heritage Petroleum, which is leasing the acreage to Renaissance Energy.
“It may not be coincidental that as we speak increasingly about increasing oil production, we are being faced by acts of sabotage. And I want to call upon the national community to take note of this, which we believe could be part of a wider organised approach to undermining our energy infrastructure and, indeed, our energy security.”
In his prepared statement at the Symposium, the Energy Minister called on the former Minister of Energy Stuart Young to condemn these acts as he noted that the saboteurs were impersonating oilfield personnel.
“One person in the area went so far to suggest that it might be elements linked to the Opposition PNM as well that are undermining and sabotaging our infrastructure in those areas because within recent times we have had an uptick in oil production.”
Minister Moonilal said air quality is being monitored and all State agencies are actively working to manage the spill.
He added that security had been beefed up by Heritage Petroleum, and the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service was also alerted to the issue.