Paria diving tragedy findings within 45 days.
That’s the deadline for the report of the five-member team of experts who will be probing the recent tragedy involving five LMCS divers who were working on a Paria Fuel Trading Company pipeline.
And if the team recommends that certain officials should be removed for the investigation to be done, Energy Minister Stuart Young says he’ll consider removal.
Young revealed the team’s task at yesterday’s post-Cabinet media briefing. He also spoke about the condition of the divers’ bodies retrieved.
The probe team was the latest step taken by Government following the tragedy which unfolded at Paria’s compound last Friday, when the divers were doing maintenance work on a 30-inch pipeline.
Young noted that he’d promised on Monday that an independent investigation would be done. The Energy Ministry, which is the regulator of this particular industry, is being used as the legal umbrella for an independent probe of the circumstances leading up to the accident, the accident itself and what happened after, he added.
Government yesterday decided —on the ministry’s recommendation—to have a five-member committee chaired by Shiv Sharma, an attorney of 18 years.
Young said a lawyer was chosen to head the team since a proper lawyer would know how to treat with people fairly and know boundaries that can apply.
Also on the team is professional sub-sea specialist Gregory Wilson, who has over 25 years of expertise in the oil and gas sector. He’s done deep water diving in oil and gas facilities.
Energy expert Eugene Tiah (retired chairman, Massy Energy and Industrial Gases) was nominated by the Energy Chamber.
Two representatives will come from BP and Shell.
Young asked heads of both companies to ensure the two representatives—expected to provide a broad net of expertise—are specialists and not to limit the personnel to T&T nationals. He noted these international oil and gas companies have set procedures for what happens in tragic incidents.
The committee can co-opt further expertise required.
Forty-five days is an outside date. If the team finishes within two weeks, Young expects them to deliver a report.
Young detailed the 11 points of the team’s focus “among other things.”
This includes to determine the adequacy and mechanical integrity of equipment utilised by LMCS and the adequacy of LMCS’ plans utilised for the operation at Paria.
The probe extends from the time Paria went out for a competitive tender for work to be done, those who put in tenders, what LMCS did and provided and work that was being done last Friday—up to final retrieval of the bodies.
On calls for suspension of Paria chairman Newman George, CEO Mustaq Mohammed and others, Young said it was very premature at this stage.
“I haven’t received any resignations, nor am I at this stage calling for any resignations...that would be premature. This panel of experts will look at the various roles played and I certainly will take it from there,” he said.
“Obviously, if an investigation is taking place and the panel at a certain stage of the investigation comes with a recommendation—‘we believe certain persons should step aside to allow the investigation to take place,’—I’ll give that consideration as the minister.”
If the report produces any culpability, he added, “The recommendations to be implemented—certainly under our tenure—will be addressed.”
On theories that “Delta P” (differential pressure) caused the accident, Young said he’d gotten reports it may not have been that.
“Paria says there was no other pipeline connected to the U-shaped pipeline—where the incident occurred—that could have opened. But let the experts deal with that.”
He said the probe didn’t stop Paria or LMCS from having their own investigations.
“I certainly hope Paria and other operators have immediately learned from this incident and already implemented any improvements that need to take place.”
On claimms things might have been removed from the site, he said if anything occurred, it will emerge in the probe. Young, who said the accident wasn’t an indictment on the ministry, noted Government and the Prime Minister wouldn’t have known what work was being done at Paria.
“This was a very unfortunate tragic accident which is why we went for an independent panel of experts.”
Team's Mission
1. Ascertaining scope of work issued by Paria for exercise.
2. Ascertain proposed select plan submitted by LMCS to conduct works at the material site.
3. Examine generally the policy and procedure and practices relating to employees and organised labour for these types of maintenance exercises.
4. Identify precise facts and circumstances that led up to and resulted in loss of life.
5. Examine all decisions and actions taken after it became clear divers went missing.
6. Investigate the nature, extent and application of any standing orders, policy, considerations, legislation or other instructions dealing with the situation which gave rise to unfortunate and tragic incident.
7. Identify whether Paria and LMCS employed enough safeguards and measures to ensure safety of contracted employees and property.
8. Determine adequacy and mechanical integrity of equipment utilised by LMCS.
9. Determine adequacy of LMCS’ plans which were utilised for operation.
10. Identify whether by act or omission, any identified or unidentified party directly or indirectly caused loss of life.
11. Examine role played by Paria and LMCS through respective units individually or collectively in dealing with incident.