Oil spill near Gulf of Paria
The Paria Fuel Trading Company Limited has admitted that oil has been leaking from a pipeline near its refinery for 14 days. According to FFOS, multiple accounts of oil spills have been reported since 2018.
On Aug 9, the Environmental Management Authority and Paria Fuel Trading Company Ltd addressed the incident of an oil leak in the Gulf of Paria.
Gary Aboud, corporate secretary of Fishermen and Friends of the Sea (FFOS), embarked on a pirogue yesterday and travelled to the spill site. According to Aboud, the oil leak occurred near the Pointe-a-Pierre refinery and extended to Claxton Bay.
Paria stated in a statement that maritime security detected an oil slick near the Pointe-a-Pierre port at about 7.30 p.m. on Saturday.
According to the firm, its Incident Command Team was established and employees were sent promptly to determine the source of the leak.
Meanwhile, the firm claimed that a subsequent sea inspection conducted earlier yesterday revealed regions of the oil spill and traces north of the Pointe-a-Pierre port.
“To avoid additional oil migration into the water, absorbent booms have been carefully deployed,” the firm reported.
Additionally, the firm claimed that the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries and the Paria leadership team inspected the locations at 2:00 p.m. Saturday and that the mishap was reported to the appropriate regulatory authorities.
According to the EMA, the Paria called them to inform them of oil traces in the Guaracara River created by a leaky pipe that allowed crude oil to reach the river.
“The EMA’s Emergency Response and Investigating Unit (ERI) is coordinating with the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries (MEEI) and will persist to do so with all appropriate authorities and stakeholders while this report is investigated,” the EMA said.
Meanwhile, David Lee, the Member of Parliament for Pointe-a-Pierre, said that the oil leak is very worrisome and requires an urgent inquiry by the Energy Ministry.
Lee urged the energy ministry to not only notify the public about the source and scope of the oil leak but also to take immediate action and execute all necessary contingency measures.
He further said that inaction may have disastrous consequences not just for the surrounding ecosystem, but also for the Claxton Bay community’s fishing business, which relies on this region for revenue and food supplies.
