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Oil Refinery Admits Nearly 500 Environmental Breaches in Cheshire

Essar's Stanlow refinery in Cheshire admitted nearly 500 environmental breaches from 2018-2020, including cyanide discharges into local waterways. The company pleaded guilty and apologized, with no reported environmental contamination.

·2 min read
BBC Smoke rises from Stanlow oil refinery in Ellesmere Port

Environmental Breaches at Cheshire Oil Refinery

A company owning an oil refinery in Cheshire has acknowledged violating environmental regulations close to 500 times.

Among these violations, four involved discharging cyanide levels exceeding permitted limits into the Manchester Ship Canal, a nearby river, and a local brook.

These offences occurred between 2018 and 2020.

Essar, operator of the Stanlow oil refinery in Ellesmere Port, has issued an apology for breaking environmental rules 491 times over a four-year span.

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It pleaded guilty to 12 charges brought by the Environment Agency at Chester Magistrates' Court. The case is scheduled for further hearing on 14 July for case management at Warrington Magistrates' Court.

A view of the Manchester Ship Canal with green trees on either side and a view of Salford in the distance
The Manchester Ship Canal runs for 36 miles from Eastham in Wirral to Salford

Company Response and Environmental Impact

A spokeswoman for Essar stated the company "takes its responsibilities for wastewater management extremely seriously" and has implemented measures to "address the causes of these breaches."

"The company accepts the enforcement action being taken by the Environment Agency for these historic breaches and regrets and apologises for these incidents."
"There were no reports of environmental contamination, or impact on wildlife during the time of these breaches."

Additional Information

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This article was sourced from bbc

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