Three terminated over oil spill

During Parliament Question Time, Ramnarine responded to questions posed by Point Fortin MP Paula Gopee-Scoon.

The minister said Mado Bachan, vice president of refining and marketing, who had been on suspension with full pay, resigned effective October 10. He was replaced by Jonathan Barden. Ramnarine said Barden has 25 years experience in oil refining in four different countries.

Ramnarine said Petrotrin’s own internal investigation made recommendations relating to systems. Thereafter, procedures were made to ensure no recurrence of an oil spill from Tank MP6. “An independent investigation and root cause analysis was conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers into the Tank MP6 leak,” Ramnarine said. “This investigation also confirmed the need for observance and updating of systems and procedures.”

Ramnarine said 19,512 barrels of oil were discharged from Tank MP6 and all – except that lost to evaporation or absorption in the soil – were recovered. No oil reached the sea, he said.