Venezuela warns of ‘serious’ environmental impact from alleged oil spill in Trinidad and Tobago
CARACAS (AP) — Venezuelan says an oil spill from Trinidad and Tobago, two islands just off its coast, has caused serious environmental damage to the coastlines of at least two of its states and a bay area near the Caribbean nation.
The extent of the leak was disputed by the government on Sunday. Trinidad and TobagoHe said only 10 barrels were spilled and it was brought under control the day it was detected on May 1.
In a letter to the international community late Saturday, Venezuela’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said initial assessments found “serious risks” to the states of Sucre and Delta Amacuro and to ecosystems in Venezuela. Gulf of Paria. It is stated that the leak poses a threat mangroveswetlands and the environmental balance of the region.
The official statement stated that the Venezuelan government requested information about the incident and an action plan to mitigate and control the leak, and requested compensation measures in accordance with international environmental law.
Venezuela did not say when it first detected the leak or how much was spilled.
The government of Trinidad and Tobago and the state oil company, which detected the leak, did not disclose it until after a complaint from Venezuelan officials. They said there were initially concerns that “hydrocarbon material could cross the Trinidad/Venezuelan border in the Gulf of Paria.” However, they added that the leak was quickly brought under control.
Venezuela and the Caribbean country, which signed a delimitation agreement in the 1990s setting out terms for exploiting hydrocarbon deposits on both sides of the border strip, share the Gulf of Paria, an inland sea located at the westernmost tip of Venezuela and south of the island of Trinidad.
Trinidad and Tobago has significant oil and gas exploration both onshore and in shallow waters, and is one of the Caribbean’s largest producers, according to official information from the Trinidad Ministry of Energy.
