Media Release
Scarborough, Tobago – February 9th, 2024 – The Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries (MEEI) is continuing to provide crucial technical support to the Tobago Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) in response to the ongoing oil spill incident. Last night, the MEEI dispatched a team of Petroleum Inspectors from its Petroleum Operations Management Division (POMD) to Tobago, led by Mr. Marc Rudder, Chief Technical Officer, to assist the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) and TEMA with containment and management of the spill.
Further demonstrating national collaboration, today, Minister of Energy and Energy Industries and Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, the Honourable Stuart R. Young, MP, and Senator the Honourable Rohan Sinanan, Minister of Works and Transport, met with Chief Secretary Farley Augustine in Scarborough, Tobago. Both Ministers Young and Sinanan offered continued support and expertise from their respective Ministries to the THA and TEMA, with MEEI personnel actively participating and providing expertise in the ongoing response exercise.
Minister Young has also approved Heritage Petroleum Company Ltd. to dispatch additional resources, including personnel and equipment, to Tobago to assist in the response. This follows the MEEI’s initial request for assistance from Woodside Energy and their subsequent approval for the use of a private service contractor, Kaizen Environmental Services Trinidad Ltd., already present in Tobago with expertise in containment and clean-up operations.
Furthermore, Minister Young has been in direct contact with the leadership of both bpTT and Shell Trinidad, both of whom have offered to provide assistance through the MEEI in dealing with the situation. The Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries reaffirmed its commitment to continuously providing support and assistance in this developing matter, highlighting the widespread national effort to mitigate the environmental impact of the Tobago oil spill.
