An oil leak in the Loire from the TotalEnergies refinery in Donges

Sunday 24th November 2024 05:10 AM

A crude oil leak was detected at the TotaEnergies refinery in Donges on Saturday November 23, iridescent 500 square meters of water into the Loire.

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A crude oil leak into the Loire River was detected at the TotaEnergies refinery in Donges (Loire-Atlantique), Saturday November 23, shortly before 11 p.m. A water surface of approximately 500 square meters in the Loire was iridescent, informed the Loire-Atlantique prefecture, this Sunday, November 24.

Since this Sunday at 3:45 a.m., no more crude oil flows into the river, according to the prefecture. The surface area of the river pollutedcould be partly contained by a double containment system via floating booms“, indicates a press release from the prefecture.

“The leak materialized as a 2 cm breach on a weld bead creating a net
flow“in the Loire, also announces the prefecture, which adds: “As soon as the event occurred, the section of the line concerned was isolated“.

“The iridescent waters should partly disperse naturally and be carried back to the banks by the action of the wind. (…) The measurements carried out by TotalEnergies in the commune of Donges did not detect the presence of volatile organic compounds linked to this event“, also notes the press release.

This Sunday morning, work is underway to drain this part via water injection. Reconnaissances will be carried out during the day to measure the environmental impacts.

Last September, a previous leak from the Donges refinery caused a flame on the site. In December last year, another leak caused the premises to be evacuated. In addition, another oil leak in the Loire had already been detected in Donges in January 2021.