Minister of Energy and Energy Industries, Dr Roodal Moonilal, says over 400 barrels of crude oil have been released into the environment following the suspected sabotage of a pipeline in Barrackpore.

Speaking to the media on Wednesday after addressing a Trinidad and Tobago Society of Petroleum Engineers Symposium on mature oil basins, he said a three-inch Renaissance Energy pipeline was deliberately cut, with approximately 10 feet of pipe removed.

“We believe that this was an act of sabotage. The estimated release is approximately 416 barrels of crude oil, impacting approximately 600 feet of an adjacent watercourse. Heritage immediately activated its incident command system, and Renaissance Energy isolated the affected pipeline by ceasing pumping operations 20 minutes later after discovery.”