Oilfield Workers Trade Union (OWTU) leader Ancel Roget is attributing two Petrotrin fires in the space of three days in Moruga to poor maintenance.
Yesterday, Petrotrin sent out a release confirming that its personnel responded to another fire at Saunders Trace on Friday, close to Tuesday’s fire in which a car caught ablaze.
No details were forthcoming by Petrotrin on the origin of Friday’s fire, but Tuesday’s fire was caused by a leaking six-inch condensate and crude oil pipeline, which spilled on the roadway causing the car to ignite.
The three occupants were able to jump out before the car burst into flames.
In yesterday’s release, Petrotrin stated its fire personnel responded to the report around 3 pm on Friday and extinguished the fire.
“Petrotrin’s Security, Fire, HSE and Operations personnel are currently on site and preliminary investigations indicate that the fire is not as a result of a leak on the company’s buried 6” line located in that area.”
Petrotrin said after Tuesday’s incident repair works were completed on a buried six-inch oil line which runs from Catshill to Barrackpore in the Saunders Trace area.
“Petrotrin reiterates that the safety of employees, residents in fenceline communities and members of the public is of paramount importance; as is the protection of the environment.”
The company said an investigation had been launched.
Speaking on i95.5 FM, however, Roget called for a joint investigation by the union and the company to determine the cause of the line’s rupture. “Our information is that it is a direct result of poor maintenance of those lines.” He accused the company of focusing more on giving away lucrative production to lease operators than on maintaining the facilities.