The accidental rupture of an underground oil pipeline between Loire-Atlantique and Brittany has caused a major oil leak. Some homes have been evacuated.
The rupture in France of an underground pipeline connecting a refinery owned by the company Total in the city of Donges, in Loire-Atlantique, to a depot in Ille-et-Vilaine, in Brittany, has caused the spillage of approximately 550,000 litres of domestic fuel oil. The figures were confirmed, according to the French daily 20 Minutes, by the local prefecture, which specified that the incident occurred on the territory of the commune of Sainte-Anne-sur-Brivet.
The pipeline rupture is believed to have been caused by earthworks: an excavator reportedly struck the pipework accidentally at around ten o'clock on the morning of Tuesday 5 April. The pipeline was shut down, but this was not enough to prevent the major oil spill. Following initial assessments, the French authorities nonetheless spoke of "limited environmental damage": in particular, two ponds and a ditch were said to have been flooded with crude oil.
"Throughout the night between Tuesday and Wednesday," the department explained, "teams from the fire service and from Total (which had initially reported 380,000 litres spilled) carried out pumping operations in order to make the area safe and contain the pollution." In the meantime, a ban on the use of well water was issued, while the drinking water supply was said to have been unaffected. The area in question is not densely populated, but the few residents whose homes are close to the leak were forced to leave them: ten houses in particular were evacuated.
According to local press reports, the pipeline was built in 1964 and is 93 kilometres long. The entire route runs underground and the pipeline has a capacity of 7,200 cubic metres. Inside it, petrol, diesel and domestic fuel are conveyed at a pressure of 40 bars.