Fire and police officers and other emergency first responders are currently at the scene of an explosion at the recently opened NiQuan GTL plant at the Pointe-a-Pierre refinery.
Residents as far north as California and as far South as Oropouche were startled by the blast which emanated from a tower on the plant. Eyewitness video showed that the top of a tower had blown off and large columns of smoke was billowing from the tower.
Residents in several areas said they thought a transformer nearby had blown up. One resident, Allan Gopaul, posted on Facebook that around 6.30 am that his house was rocked by an explosion at the refinery.
Police have blocked off the Southern Mian Road from the Pointe-a-Pierre Plaza to Marabella and the T&T Police Service (TTPS) had issued a statement urging caution in the vicinity of the refinery.
There has been no confirmed information on the cause of the explosion but it appears that the fire has been contained.
NiQuan Energy’s Gas to Liquids plant at Pointe-à-Pierre was officially opened by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley last month. According to the company's website, the plant has a nameplate capacity of 2,400 barrels a day and produces high performance, low emissions energy products, GTL Paraffinic Diesel and GTL Naphtha, from natural gas.
This story will be updated as more information comes to hand.