Tarouba oil leak plugged, clean up continues

An oil leak on an ageing 12-inch pipeline at Tarouba, South Trinidad has been plugged and clean-up operations are continuing.

Energy Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal and San Fernando West MP Dr Michael Dowalth have expressed satisfaction with the response of Heritage Petroleum Ltd and other stakeholders.

Moonilal and Dowlath, who is also Education Minister, said some residents affected by the leak have been temporarily relocated from their homes and are not suffering from any illness.

In a statement on June 28, Heritage said it activated its emergency response team to assess the site and "has successfully clamped the leak."

The company added, "Ongoing assessment, recovery and clean-up efforts are underway in all affected areas."

Heritage said containment booms were deployed along the affected watercourse, "with no indications of oil impacting the marine environment."

The company added, "Community issues continue to be assessed and addressed as precautionary measures."

The Energy Ministry, Environmental Management Authority (EMA) and other relevant stakeholders have been informed about the leak.

Heritage said it is maintaining "close communication and collaboration with key stakeholders throughout the response process."

A video showing a member of Heritage's response team operating a containment boom on a watercourse was posted on former energy minister Stuart Young's Facebook page on June 28.

In a Facebook post, Young said the leak reportedly happened on June 27 in Marabella West along a river near to the trainline.

He hoped the matter would be properly addressed and full details would be provided to the public by Moonilal.

In a WhatsApp comment, Moonilal said the leak was detected by Heritage on June 27 at 9 am.

'We have visited the site. We have visited the affected areas, including New City (Avenue) in Marabella West where we have seen the clean up operations undertaken by Heritage and contractors involved in curtailment."

Moonilal said, "We are extremely pleased that this matter has been dealt with in a manner that is extremely expeditious."

He added he visited some residents who were temporarily relocated to a hotel in San Fernando while clean up operations are underway.

Moonilal said these people "appear to be comfortable and we are extremely happy that there has been no grave illnesses or health problems emanating from this leak."

He added they were visited by doctors.

Moonilal confirmed Heritage's statement about the leak being curtailed.

"Notwithstanding the weather. We have been able to stay on top of the problem."

Moonilal was optimistic by June 30, this matter will be resolved.

"The cause of the leak is the ageing infrastructure on the pipelines which is a legacy item here."

He said over the last ten years "apparently very little has been done to deal with these matters of ageing infrastructure and asset integrity."

Minister in the Energy Ministry Ernesto Kesar, Moonilal continued, will stay on top of this matter and liaise with all relevant stakeholders.

Moonilal said Dowlath, Claxton Bay MP Hansen Narinesingh, UNC councillors John Michael Alibocus and Sasha Ali, and UNC alderman Villiana Ramoutarsingh also visited areas affected by the leak.

'They are committed as well to ensuring that the residents are healthy, safe and will return to their dwelling units in the shortest possible time."

In a video posted on his Facebook page on June 28, Dowlath said he was informed about the leak around 8 pm on June 27.

"We have gotten reports from Heritage that some of the residents have been evacuated. Right now there is a very high scent coming from the oil spill."

Dowlath said, "I want to compliment all of those who are working on this emergency. We are making sure that every single person is taken out of this danger zone."

He added, "We will continue to monitor and update as we go along."

Alibocus confirmed some residents were temporarily evacuated from their homes.

"We have commanders on site to make sure that the people are treated properly."

Ali and Ramoutarsingh said once they received news of the leak, the necessary resources from the San Fernando City Corporation were deployed to assist.

Narinesingh was grateful to Heritage for its quick response to the leak. He said Moonilal and Kesar will be updated on the clean up operations as they progress.