00:00In response to a question from TV6 News and the G-Minister, Dr. Rudal Munilal,
00:04gave an estimate of the amount of oil that had spilled in what Heritage Petroleum Company Limited calls the main
00:10field.
00:11We did confirm a small spill, what is called a tier one spill on May 1st.
00:18It was dealt with in 48 hours or less.
00:23It involved what we expect to be four to ten barrels of oil.
00:27In a statement on Sunday, May 10th, Heritage Petroleum said an oil spill trajectory modeling was immediately conducted,
00:33which indicated that if left untreated, the hydrocarbon material could cross the Trinidad-Venezuelan border in the Gulf of Paria.
00:41We completed the cleanup activities in record time,
00:45and the particular pipeline that was leaking was repaired as well and returned to service within 48 hours.
00:52The entire cleanup operation took place in Trinidad and Tobago waters.
00:57We have, of course, noted the concerns of the Venezuelan government,
01:01and we have inquired through foreign affairs and so on if there had been any correspondence on this matter.
01:07So far, we have received nothing, but we, of course, take their concerns very seriously,
01:13and we'll continue to await any further information.
01:16Fishermen and friends of the Sea Corporate Secretary, Gary Aboud,
01:19issued a statement on Facebook in which he said that,
01:22quote, on May 9th, we became aware of another oil spill in our Gulf of Paria,
01:26not because our Ministry of Energy informed us,
01:29not because Heritage Petroleum alerted fishermen, mariners, coastal communities, or the public,
01:35but after the Venezuelan government publicly raised an alarm about environmental damage affecting its people,
01:41Venezuela informed the world before TT informed its own patriots, end quote.
01:48Mr. Aboud said this is not right.
01:50Energy Minister Munila responded to such concerns and criticism from opposition MP and former Energy Minister Stuart Young.
01:58Oil spills are regularly, you know, taking place, regrettably,
02:03because of the poor, dilapidated, and neglected infrastructure left by the PNM.
02:09We do have more small spills than before.
02:13There is no requirement to announce or make media releases and so on for what is called Tier 1 small
02:21spills.
02:22Energy Minister Munila said those involved in the oil spill response worked around the clock.
02:26What I can confirm is that all protocols of the Heritage and the Ministry were observed.
02:33The EMA, Coast Guard, and so on, got involved and were informed.
02:38And that was dealt with, as I said, speedily.
02:41The Energy Minister congratulated Heritage Petroleum for their response.
02:45Jewel Brown, TV6 News.
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