PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – Energy Minister Franklin Khan said an investigation will be launched into the circumstances surrounding an oil spill that the state-owned oil company PETROTRIN said resulted in an estimated 300 barrels of oil escaping from a ruptured storage tank into the seas.

“Estimates from the Incident Command Centre indicate that an estimated 300 barrels had entered the sea and tidal conditions suggest that the oil is heading in a north westerly direction,” PETROTRIN said in a statement.It said its operations personnel as well as representatives from the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries, the Environment Management Authority and other regulatory bodies were involved in recovery efforts.“Cognisant of our responsibility to ensure the clean-up is completed in a timely manner and with minimal impact to the environment, our clean-up crews are working around the clock and a Wildlife Rehabilitation Plan has been mobilized and implemented,” the company said. Khan, speaking in the Senate on Tuesday, said last Sunday’s oil spill into the Guaracara Rivers did not flow further past Pointe-a-Pierre into any other southern areas as had been the case with previous spills.He told legislators that five residents had reported feeling nauseous after the spill and were treated at the Augustus Long Hospital, south of here. Khan said that the spill occurred when Tank 70 sprung a leak at its base. It contained 12,853 barrels of oil.The majority of spilled oil was contained within the refinery, but some escaped into the marine environment, he said, adding that the occurrence will be investigated to find out why the containment failed and to guide future asset integrity and in-house inspection frameworks.In its first statement on the matter, PETROTRIN said that only 20 barrels of oil had leaked from the storage tank and the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) said on Monday that 20,000 gallons, more than 400 barrels of bunker fuel had escaped.Dozens of species of plant and marine life have been affected by the spill which was being cleaned up yesterday with dispersants and containment booms.The EMA said that the Oil spill Contingency Plan has been activated and the matter was being handled by the Ministry of Energy.The non-governmental organisation, Fishermen and Friends of the Sea is warning that another tank containing 150,000 barrels of fuel oil contains high levels of heavy metals and are toxic contaminants.“The tank is improperly cited near to the San Fernando General Hospital and near the shoreline. PETROTRIN reported 300 barrels of oil was spilt. Tank #70 has a capacity of 150,000 barrels and our reports are that it was full. Therefore where is the balance of 149,700 barrels?” the NGO added.