Sabotage damages oil pipeline in Barrackpore

An oil pipeline in Barrackpore, Trinidad and Tobago, suffered deliberate sabotage, resulting in an oil leak and prompting immediate cleanup and investigation. Energy Minister Dr. Roodal Moonilal confirmed the incident, describing it as an act where individuals damaged the pipeline with the intention of stealing sections. "I want to condemn that act of vandalism and theft that has now reached the stage where individuals are stealing the pipeline infrastructure," Moonilal stated.

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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, triggering a response from Heritage Petroleum and state agencies. Environmental protection measures are underway to safeguard nearby communities, agricultural lands, and livestock. The minister assured that "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."

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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.

Heritage Petroleum also condemned the sabotage, noting that a six-foot section of the pipeline was detached. The company activated its Incident Command System and deployed vacuum trucks and containment booms. Air quality testing will be conducted as a precautionary measure. The company stated that sabotage "poses unacceptable risk to public safety, the environment and critical national energy infrastructure." The government plans to collaborate with Heritage Petroleum to bolster security across oilfield operations to deter similar occurrences.

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I want to condemn that act of vandalism and theft that has now reached the stage where individuals are stealing the pipeline infrastructure.