[UPDATED] Amcham, Energy Chamber call for swift probe into NiQuan fire

WHILE the Energy Chamber calls for an urgent, detailed investigation into the death of an employee at NiQuan Energy Trinidad Ltd, the American Chamber of Commerce of TT (Amcham) hopes the findings of the probe will restore public confidence in the country’s institutions.

In a statement on Wednesday, Amcham said it welcomes the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries' investigation into a fire at NiQuan's gas-to-liquids plant at Point-a-Pierre last Thursday. Massy Energy Engineered Solutions Ltd employee Allan Lane Ramkissoon died on Sunday from injuries sustained in the fire.

Amcham said, “If carried out expeditiously and the findings made public when appropriate to so do, this can play a part in reinstalling public trust in our institutions. Therefore, it is vital that the authorities ensure a fully transparent and independent investigation that will provide much-needed answers to relatives and the national community.”

In its own statement earlier Wednesday, the Energy Chamber said it too welcomed the ministry’s investigation.

“We urge a detailed, expeditious investigation and timely sharing of its findings. The safety of every employee remains a critical priority for the industry, and we hope that the outcome of the investigation will be used to enhance safety policies and practices to avoid such tragedies in the future.”

Last Thursday's fire was the second industrial incident at the plant since it began operations in December 2020.

In April 2021, the plant’s hydrocracker system failed during an attempted startup, causing an explosion. The company described that incident as “a serious equipment failure.”

While both chambers call for transparency in the outcome of the investigation into Ramkissoon’s death, the Prime Minister told Parliament on Tuesday he was unsure whether the report could be made public. He said the findings of the 2021 investigation by NiQuan could not be made public either.

"If it can be made public under the specific authorities, then it will be. If it's, on the other hand, a report coming from the company, then of course, we have constraints," Dr Rowley said.

He added: "It all depends on what the report is and whose report it is. But once the circumstances and the legal authorities permit, then the relevant minister would make that commitment. I would not presume to make it.

"These things are guided by commercial controls and legal controls."

Amcham also extended condolences to Ramkissoon’s relatives.

It said while the findings could not reduce their pain, it could help reduce the likelihood of similar incidents in the future.

Amcham said part of it’s core practices is creating safe work spaces for its members and the findings of the report might assist in that endeavour.

This story was originally published with the title "Energy Chamber calls for swift, transparent probe into fatal NiQuan accident" and has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

THE Energy Chamber is calling for an urgent, detailed investigation into the death of an employee at NiQuan Energy Trinidad Ltd.

In a media release on Wednesday, the Chamber said it welcomed the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries forming a team to investigate the incident.

“We urge a detailed, expeditious investigation and timely sharing of its findings. The safety of every employee remains a critical priority for the industry, and we hope that the outcome of the investigation will be used to enhance safety policies and practices to avoid such tragedies in the future.”

Last Thursday, Massy Energy employee Allan Lane Ramkissoon was injured in a fire at the company's gas-to-liquids plant. In a release on Sunday, the company said he died at a specialist burns unit at a Colombian hospital.

This is the second incident at the plant. In April 2021, the plant’s hydrocracker system failed during an attempted startup, which the company described as “a serious equipment failure.”

While the Energy Chamber is calling for transparency in the outcome of the investigation into Ramkissoon’s death, the Prime Minister told Parliament on Tuesday he was unsure whether the report could be made public. He added that the findings of the 2021 investigation by NiQuan cannot be made public either.

"If it can be made public under the specific authorities, then it will be. If it's, on the other hand, a report coming from the company, then of course, we have constraints," Rowley said.

He added: "It all depends on what the report is and whose report it is. But once the circumstances and the legal authorities permit, then the relevant minister would make that commitment. I would not presume to make it.

"These things are guided by commercial controls and legal controls."