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French court orders Total to pay 300,000 euro fine over leak

17 January 2012, 18:36 CET

(SAINT NAZAIRE) - A French court ordered energy giant Total to pay a 300,000 euro ($382,000) fine Tuesday for pollution caused by an oil leak in the Loire river at its Donges refinery in western France.

The incident in March 2008 saw 500 tonnes of oil leak from the refinery, including 180 tonnes into the Loire estuary.

Total faced three charges: leaking oil into groundwater or the sea, damaging the local environment and improper use of its facilities. The court upheld the first two charges but not the third.

Prosecutors had urged the 300,000 euro fine, accusing Total of negligence in the incident.

The court also ordered Total to pay 100,000 euros to regional authorities and 20,000 euros to two environmental groups, the Bird Protection League and France Nature Environment, in moral damages.

The court however rejected a request from local associations for Total to pay compensation for environmental damage.


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