Teak plantation owners demand compensation from Heritage Petroleum

THE joint owners of a teak plantation at Lagoon Trace, Princes Town, are demanding compensation from Heritage Petroleum Company Ltd for an oil spill caused by a leaking pipeline buried along their property.

The family of seven – Ameran, Carmen, Norisha, Kazim, Katija, Nazeman and Salisa Mohammed - said the buried pipeline was leaking for some time before it was discovered on May 13 by a family member.

In a pre-action protocol letter sent to Heritage’s chairman Michael Quamina, the crude oil from the leak flowed onto the property, contaminating the soil.

Attorney Peter Taylor, who represents the family, the leak was reported to Heritage and representatives from the company visited the location.

Taylor alleged that a representative of the company presented a document to Nazeman Mohammed, demanding she sign it. She refused.

Taylor said the family hired an environmental research company to conduct an environmental impact assessment of the damage to the land.

The report, which was presented with the pre-action letter, said there was evidence of a buried crude oil pipeline which ruptured recently and the leak from the line settled and collected in the soil on the Mohammeds’ land.

Taylor gave Heritage 14 days to make a realistic and comprehensive offer of compensation since the EIA report recommended compensation for current and future losses since the plantation had trees in various stages of growth. It suggested compensation be included for the purchasing and replanting of tress.