The Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries (MALF) responds to report of an oil spill in Penal

MEDIA RELEASE:

The Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries (MALF) responds to report of an oil spill in Penal

 

Earlier today, members of the South Game Warden Unit accompanied by members of Serpentarium and officials from Heritage Petroleum Company Limited (Heritage) investigated reports of an oil spill affecting wildlife in Katwaroo Trace, Penal.

 

Investigations revealed that on Tuesday, 13th June, 2023 a breach occurred in a four-inch pipeline owned by Heritage resulting in the oil spill. Flooding in the immediate area, lead to the dispersion of oil which impacted 20 acres of marsh land. The incident has affected five sites in the Katwaroo Trace area, which is situated north of Clarke Road in close proximity to the Penal Heritage Facility.

Several wildlife species have been affected but have since been rescued and rehabilitated. Rescued animals include Brown-banded Water Snakes, Red-sided Water Snakes, Caimans and River Turtles. Wild Ducks, Capybaras, Mongoose and Herons were also affected but not severely impacted and have since left the affected areas.

 

During an extensive site assessment conducted alongside Heritage officials, Game Wardens were informed by Mr. Dave Samlal, CCMER Advisor at Heritage, that all necessary measures are being taken to ensure an effective and efficient restoration of the impact zone and the affected community.

 

Senator the Honourable Kazim Hosein, Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries commended all teams on their efforts and dedication to preserving the wildlife of the country. “The response and subsequent clean-up exercises of this oil spill have been incident free, thanks to the professionalism and dedication of our Game Wardens and the cooperation extended by all involved parties.”

 

The Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries remains committed to preserving our natural resources and protecting our wildlife. We will continue to closely monitor the restoration efforts and ensure the well-being of all affected species.

 

 

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