Oil leak clean-up efforts ongoing

And while sources say an estimated 20,000 gallons of bunker fuel was accidentally released from the company’s storage tank on Sunday evening , Petrotrin via media release on Sunday night stated, “ Initial estimates at 8.00 pm indicate some 20 barrels of fuel oil would have escaped the company’s containment.” Petrotrin, in a media release yesterday issued by the Corporate Communications Department, stated, Petrotrin’s response teams and operations personnel were working with the regulatory bodies and the Energy Ministry engaged in clean-up and recovery efforts at Pointe-a-Pierre.

“In addition to escalating its ongoing containment, monitoring and testing activities, personnel were engaged in the conduct of aerial surveys to ascertain the extent of the spill. Specialist cleaning contractors have been engaged and as a precautionary measure, booms have been deployed,” the release stated.

On Sunday, after the discovery, Petrotrin officials notified regulatory agencies such as the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) and the Institute of Marine Affairs as well as the Energy and Energy Industries Ministry.

In 2013, residents of La Brea and environs faced one of the worst oil spills. But yesterday, president of the La Brea Fisherfolk Association Alvin La Borde said there were no signs that any of the chemicals had reached the community.

“So far everything is normal and we hope it remains so. No oil came down this way. We see officials from the IMA, EMA and Petrotrin visited the area this morning and were checking to see if they discovered anything,” said La Borde.

Chief Education and Research Officer at the Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union Ozzi Warwick said “comrades” of the union were preparing reports on the issue.

Once completed, he promised the union will issue a formal statement on the matter.