MINISTER of Energy Dr Roodal Moonilal has said the authorities have responded to an act of sabotage of an oil pipeline at GP Road in Barrackpore.Moonilal confirmed yesterday that a pipeline operated by a private company in collaboration with Heritage Petroleum Ltd had been deliberately damaged by people attempting to steal sections of the pipeline, resulting in an oil leak.
The Energy Minister spoke to reporters following a graduation ceremony of the Grant Memorial Presbyterian School at the Susamachar Presbyterian Church in San Fernando.The incident was reported to the police as an act of sabotage.Moonilal said, “It has been reported to the police as a matter of sabotage, where apparently elements have invaded the facility and they destroyed the pipeline with the intention, of course, of stealing significant lengths of pipe.”The leak affected the GP Road area, prompting Heritage Petroleum and other State agencies to launch a clean-up operation.Moonilal said environmental protection measures were already under way to safeguard nearby communities, agricultural lands and livestock, while investigations continue.“We are on top of it by way of clean-up and all the scientific work...to protect the environment and private property, crops, and livestock, and so on,” said Moonilal.He said the Government was working closely with police to support the criminal investigation and condemned the attack on the country’s energy infrastructure.“I want to condemn that act of vandalism and theft that has now reached the stage where individuals are stealing the pipeline infrastructure,” he said.Government will work with Heritage Petroleum to strengthen security across oilfield operations to help prevent similar incidents in the future, Moonilal stated.Vacuum trucks to recover spilled oilA release from Heritage Petroleum yesterday also condemned the pipeline sabotage.In a release, it said it responded to reports of a hydrocarbon leak at GP Road, Barrackpore and a preliminary assessment indicated that a section of the pipeline, approximately six feet in length, had been detached.The company stated that it immediately activated its Incident Command System (ICS), triggering the required incident management protocols.“The company has employed the use of vacuum trucks and other heavy machinery to recover the spilled volume. Containment booms are also being deployed in the nearby watercourse.“Company officials are engaging with nearby residents and other stakeholders, keeping them informed and providing the relevant, timely support. Air quality testing and monitoring will be conducted as a precautionary measure to ensure safe levels are being maintained in the surrounding area,” Heritage stated.“Heritage unequivocally condemns all acts of sabotage, which not only result in the loss of primary containment, but also poses unacceptable risk to public safety, the environment and critical national energy infrastructure. Consequently, the company has amplified proactive, precautionary measures for increased monitoring and security of its hydrocarbon assets.The matter has been referred to the relevant law enforcement authorities, and investigations are ongoing,” stated the release. The Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries (MEEI), the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) and all other relevant parties and regulatory agencies have been notified, said Heritage.
