Loire Atlantique - Oil Leak at St Nazaire Refinery

État des lieux

An oil pipe leaked during the loading of ships docked at Donges refinery and nearly 400 tons of fuel escaped from the holds in the estuary. This pollution soiled a major ecological heritage and was qualified as “serious” by Sir BORLOO (Minister in charge of the environment).

The Loire estuary constitutes a Special Protection Zone under the bird directive; this area shelters the colony of corncrakes. Because of the potential consequential threat to the environment, the company responsibility has to include ecological damages. Surfrider notes that the communication of the company on this matter is quite paradoxical. Indeed, the petrochemist prided itself on being capable of mitigating quickly for pollution consequences. However, it hardly mentioned the environmental impact of this leak. It took over a week for the leak to be reevalued. We wonder about the absence of bird covered with oil.

In November 2010, the Prosecutor's Office of St. Nazaire claimed the referral back to demand corrections on the trial against the company “Total”. It is now a judge to make the final decision, which will be probably done by the end of the year.  If the referral is confirmed, the trial should be held next year.

 The civil part intends to apply the jurisprudence of the trial of the sinking of the Erika in 1999. The concept of ecological damage now emerged, and it would give communities the right to seek redress for a violation of the environment, in addition to the material and moral damage.

Surfrider continuous the mobilization and keeps you informed on this case!