Venezuela Says Oil Spill Originating From T&T Has Caused ‘Serious Environmental Damage’ — Energy Ministry RESPONDS

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The Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries (MEEI) is advising that Heritage Petroleum Company Limited (Heritage) detected an oil spill in the Main Field at 7:25 AM on 1st May, 2026, and immediately activated its oil spill response protocols.

Trinidad and Tobago’s Government and Heritage, the State oil company that detected the spill, allegedly did not disclose it until after Venezuelan authorities complained to the international community.

In a Media Release today (Sunday 10th May, 2026), the MEEI said Heritage “instantly informed relevant regulatory authorities,” including the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries (MEEI), the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard (TTCG), and the Environmental Management Authority (EMA). Approval was granted by MEEI to use chemical dispersants at 9:50 AM on the same day.

According to the Ministry, “An oil spill trajectory modeling was immediately conducted, which indicated that if left untreated, the hydrocarbon material could cross the Trinidad/Venezuelan border in the Gulf of Paria. Immediately upon receiving the approval of the use of the chemical dispersant, it was deployed approximately 6 to 8 nautical miles from the Trinidad/Venezuelan border. Visual observations confirmed that the dispersant effectively broke up the hydrocarbon. Follow-up inspections using both drones and vessels showed no visible hydrocarbons remaining on the water’s surface.”

The Ministry added that the source of the leak was identified and stopped on 1st May 2026, repaired and returned to service on 2nd May, 2026. “This spill was estimated to be ten (10) barrels of oil. Daily inspections continue to be made within all operating fields offshore, which have revealed no spill incidents.”

The Ministry said it will “collaborate with all relevant authorities locally and abroad to provide any additional information which may be required. The Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries is also committed to working with its counterparts in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to develop a structured framework to manage any incidents of this nature which may arise in the future along our shared border.”

The Media Release concluded by saying, “The Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries remains committed to ensuring that all of its stakeholders operate in a manner which advances the Government of Trinidad and Tobago’s commitment to protection of the environment in keeping with domestic law and international obligations.”

Venezuela, however, said the oil spill that originated in Trinidad and Tobago had caused serious environmental damage along the coastlines of at least two (2) of its States and in a Gulf area near the Caribbean nation.

In a letter addressed to the international community late Saturday night (9th May, 2026), Venezuela’s Foreign Ministry said that initial assessments found “severe risks” to ecosystems in the States of Sucre and Delta Amacuro and in the Gulf of Paria. It stated that the spill poses a threat to mangroves, wetlands and the environmental balance of the region.


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The Venezuelan Government requested information about the incident and the action plan for mitigating and containing the spill, and demanded reparations measures in accordance with international environmental law, the official statement added.

Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago — who in the 1990s signed a delimitation treaty establishing the terms for exploiting any hydrocarbon deposits on both sides of the border strip — share the Gulf of Paria, an inland sea located at Venezuela’s Westernmost end and South of Trinidad.

More on this as it becomes available.

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