top cx logo
cx logo
Explorearrow down
search icon

Nature reserve hit by crude oil leak

Government says lessons to be learned from spill in Carmargue national park, which could take a month to clean up

THE government has promised more work to maintain the country’s network of oil pipelines after a major spill in a nature reserve.

The Coussoulis de Crau reserve, in the Carmague national park between Marseille and Nîmes, was flooded with 4,000 cubic metres of crude oil on Friday morning.

Ecology minister Chantal Jouanno said the damage from the accident could take up to a month to clear up. The Crau nature reserve is home to thousands of rare birds.

France has more than 50,000km of oil pipelines, many of which date back to the 1960s. Basic visual checks are carried out on the network every fortnight, but more in-depth checks are only made once every 10 years.

In an interview with Le Parisien Dimanche, Jouanno said a modernisation plan would be put in place by the end of November, including requirements for pipes to be thoroughly checked more often.

The section of pipeline that burst on Friday had not been thoroughly looked at in nine years.

She said she would call a meeting with manufacturers later this month to remind them of their duty to the environment.

Friday’s leak was in a pipe running from Fos-sur-Mer, near Marseille, to Karlsruhe in Germany. It supplies oil to petrochemical plants in France, Germany and Switzerland.

Photo: marinephotobank

Resident or second-home owner in France?
Benefit from our daily digest of headlines and how-to's to help you make the most of life in France
By joining the newsletter, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy
See more popular articles
The Connexion Help Guides
featured helpguide
Healthcare in France*
Featured Help Guide
- Understand the French healthcare system, how you access it and how you are reimbursed - Useful if you are new to the French healthcare system or want a more in-depth understanding - Reader question and answer section Aimed at non-French nationals living here, the guide gives an overview of what you are (and are not) covered for. There is also information for second-home owners and regular visitors.
Get news, views and information from France