Saturday November 23, 2024, a new major incident took place at the TotalEnergies refinery in Donges, classified as a high threshold Seveso site. A two-centimeter breach in a pipe weld caused a crude oil leak, affecting approximately 500 m² of the surface of the Loire. The incident took place in the evening and was detected at 10:50 p.m. Teams on site quickly mobilized floating booms to contain the pollution, but not before up to 15,000 liters of hydrocarbons spilled into the river.
Recurrent context and local concerns
The Donges refinery is not its first incident. Since 2021, it has been the scene of various technical problems: oil leaks, naphtha spills, corrosion of installations. This latest accident highlights the aging state of these infrastructures and rekindles tensions with local residents and environmental defenders. The latter regularly point out the lack of transparency of TotalEnergies and the growing risks linked to the industrial exploitation of this site.
The consequences on aquatic fauna and flora could be serious. Even if the natural dispersion of hydrocarbons is mentioned by the authorities, iridescence and chemical contamination threaten the sensitive ecosystems of the Loire. The lack of precise data on immediate toxicity adds to the concern. Benzene, for example, already detected in worrying concentrations during previous incidents, could cause lasting effects on the health of residents and local biodiversity..
| Date | Event | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| December 2022 | Leak of 800,000 liters of naphtha | Major pollution, health concerns |
| February 2024 | Corrosion and new leaks | Temporary closure of the refinery |
| November 2024 | Crude oil leak | Pollution of 15,000 liters in the Loire |
A late and insufficient response?
Despite rapid intervention by rescue teams, criticisms are rife. Michel Le Cler, representative of the Donge Environmental Association, denounces inadequate risk management and a lack of preparation in the face of large-scale crisis scenarios. “In the event of a major accident, local residents do not know where to go and what to do,” he emphasizes with indignation. This feeling of abandonment fuels distrust towards TotalEnergies, which struggles to reassure after decades of repeated accidents.
In the short term, the Regional Environment Directorate (DREAL) is conducting an investigation to identify the exact causes of the incident and prevent further disasters. However, environmental defenders are calling for more radical measures: independent audits, modernization of infrastructure and a plan for a gradual exit from oil activities in the region. This last point remains delicate in a context of national energy dependence.
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