Minister in the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries, Ernesto Kesar, has been fully briefed on the incident that occurred on Friday at Cluster S-912 in the South-West Soldado Field—an offshore area operated by Heritage Petroleum. The development comes as the government intensifies efforts to manage and contain the spill, which has raised serious environmental and operational concerns.
In a notable twist, both Minister Kesar and Deputy Mayor of the Siparia Borough Corporation, Shankar Teelucksingh, who joined him at the Heritage Offshore Base for on-site briefings, are former employees of Petrotrin—the now-defunct state oil company that once operated the very same Soldado oilfields. Their history with Petrotrin, the predecessor to Heritage, brings a unique layer of institutional memory and operational insight to the unfolding situation.
A release from the Ministry of Energy confirmed that a technical team remains deployed on the ground, actively monitoring the response efforts and supporting Heritage Petroleum Company Limited. The Ministry has been fully engaged since the incident was reported, offering both logistical and technical support.
During the briefing, Kesar and Teelucksingh were presented with a detailed account of the incident, the immediate containment measures already taken, and strategies for the next phases of the cleanup operation. Discussions emphasized the need for swift and effective mitigation to prevent escalation or recurrence.
Given their deep-rooted experience in the local energy sector and their familiarity with the geography and logistics of the Soldado fields, Kesar and Teelucksingh have pledged their full support to Heritage in resolving the issue. Their involvement is seen by many as a potential advantage in ensuring accountability and expediting the response timeline.
As investigations continue into the cause and scope of the spill, national attention remains fixed on the Soldado field, a critical node in Trinidad and Tobago’s offshore oil production infrastructure. Environmental groups, residents, and fisherfolk alike are hopeful that the presence of leaders with industry experience will help usher in not just immediate containment—but long-term reform.