NGC Chairman Reports TT$1 5 Billion Loss From Gas Pipeline Leak
Chairman of the National Gas Company Gerald Ramdeen said a leak in one of its pipelines has cost the country billions of dollars.
Mr. Ramdeen highlighted the leak on the Galeota gas pipeline at a press conference on Friday.
« The isolation of the 24-inch subsea pipeline resulted in a significant loss of operational flexibility for NGC, culminating in an estimated revenue loss to the National Gas Company in excess of US$277 million. »
The NGC Chairman noted that the delay in the repair to the pipeline was excessive.
« That is in excess of 1.5 billion TT dollars during the four and a half year period that the 24-inch pipeline was out of service. The diversion of the 350 million standard cubic feet of gas previously transported on the 24-inch pipeline had to be transferred to our 30-inch pipeline, which was constructed in 1982 and accelerated wear and tear. The higher throughput also elevated the likelihood of a pipeline failure given the age of the pipeline. »
Mr. Ramdeen noted that the leak was located offshore in 10 feet of water and stressed that the diversion of the gas posed a serious threat to the country.
« A complete loss of volume on the 30-inch pipeline could have resulted in a total volume loss to NGC of 500 million standard cubic feet of gas per day and which would have triggered deep curtailment to the downstream sector. »
Mr. Ramdeen said the leak was finally repaired in December 2025 at a cost of TT$40 million.
