The barge that capsized in Tobago’s waters, leaking tonnes of oil, has reportedly been linked to Guyana’s state owned power company.
However, the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) has denied any links whatsoever.
The response came after Guyana Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo’s call for a full probe, after Guyana media outlet News Source reported GPL’s possible links to a deal involving a fuel shipment to the state-owned company.
In a statement, GPL said it “is aware of the recent oil spill that occurred off the coast of Trinidad and Tobago and joins with the rest of Guyana in expressing its concern regarding the environmental implications and impact on the people of Trinidad and Tobago.”
GPL said they tendered for the supply and delivery of heavy fuel oil in June 2023 via national competitive bidding.
According to GPL, six bids were received. GPL said the tender was awarded on October 24, 2023, to Staatsolie Maatschappij Suriname N.V., which was the first-ranked bidder.
GPL said an additional award for the supply and delivery of heavy fuel oil was awarded to the joint venture Rapid Results Inc. and Osher International Holdings LLC (the second-ranked bidder) to augment GPL’s increasing consumption of heavy fuel oil and supply requirements.
The terms of both contracts require the suppliers to deliver the fuel to GPL’s ports along the Demerara River. GPL added, “Title, ownership, and risk of loss for the fuel passes from the suppliers to GPL at the discharge port.”
GPL said it had not received any notification from any of its contracted fuel suppliers that they had encountered difficulties with their vessel(s), resulting in the loss of cargo.
GPL said it wished “to unequivocally state that the company is not related to this unfortunate incident.”