CALLS have been made by an Opposition MP for NiQuan Energy’s gas-to-liquids (GTL) plant to be shut down and an investigation on its operations be done after an accident at the Pointe-a-Pierre facility has left a worker nursing serious burns.
The injured worker is an employee of Massy Energy Engineered Solutions Ltd (MEES), who was assigned to NiQuan Energy Trinidad Ltd. Ramkissoon sustained burns in an incident at the plant on Thursday.
Newsday was told by UNC Pointe-a-Pierre MP David Lee that Ramkissoon received 40 per cent burns to his body.
“I understand he went to investigate an incident and a particular gas was sprayed on him and that is how he got burned.”
Lee said the injured man is to be flown to a burns unit in Florida for medical treatment.
In a brief statement released through an advertising agency, NiQuan confirmed an incident took place on Thursday at its Pointe-a-Pierre plant, resulting in the injury of the MEES employee assigned to the company.
The release stated the injured person was in stable condition and receiving medical attention. It said the Niquan board and executive team deeply regretted the incident and sent best wishes for the "fullest and speediest recovery" to the injured worker. NiQuan assured it was cooperating with MEES to investigate the incident and report to the relevant agencies.
There was no response to calls and messages sent to Energy Minister Stuart Young. Massy Group CEO Gervais Warner who is in Ghana thanked Newsday for questions sent via WhatsApp and promised to send a response by email.
In a message similar to what was sent by NiQuan, MEES confirmed one if its employees was involved in an incident and was immediately treated at a health facility for injuries sustained. MEES said its employee is currently receiving specialised medical care and support is being provided to him and to his family.
"MEES has complied with all statutory notification procedures, and we are in communication with the team at NiQuan as they investigate the incident."
An angry Lee said he was told that around 1 am on Thursday, there was a fire on the fractionation column of the plant, in the same area where there was an explosion in April 2021.
The plant was shut down and restarted in April 2022. Pointe-a-Pierre residents had expressed concerns about the plants reopening.
In response to questions from Lee in the Parliament last June, the Prime Minister stated that NiQuan was given approval by the Ministry of Energy for the reintroduction of natural gas to the facility for the primary purpose of lighting the flare pilot burners and producing medium pressure steam utilising the auxiliary boilers for cleaning lines following the shutdown of the facility on April 7, 2021
Lee, who is the UNC shadow minister for energy, has made repeated calls for the findings of a report into the initial explosion to be made public. The Energy Ministry, the Occupational Safety and Health Authority & Agency and other state agencies conducted inquiries after the explosion.
Lee expressed co
