DONGES, on 18 / 10 / 2010 The Donges refinery, at night – © Fabrice ELSNER
The incident dates back to this weekend but it is not yet resolved: on Saturday, a crude oil leak was identified at Donges refinery after iridescence was observed in the Loire. The prefecture indicates that “no environmental damage has been observed at this stage” (no mortality either in fish or in birds), but this Thursday asks Total to “take measures to limit the consequences of the ‘incident’.
According to the first elements, “a few liters” of oil were dumped into the Loire after a leak in a buried pipeline, connecting the refinery to a wharf on the river bank. The pipes in question are being emptied, indicates the prefecture, which requested the expertise of Cedre , an association specializing in the treatment of accidental water pollution. Floating booms were also put in place to try to contain the iridescence.
The prefecture imposed on Total, this Thursday, to ensure the proper treatment of
the pollution generated by this leak, “especially in the ground”. It also gave the refinery a month to justify the actions taken but also to identify the causes of this incident.