“Iron chloride is very corrosive and is therefore a danger to bathers, fish, shellfish and marine mammals. "The Robin des Bois environmental association does not hide its deep concern after the discovery of a polluting acid sheet of a few hectares in the Mediterranean at the level of the Anse d'Auguette near Martigues (Bouches-du-Rhône). This pollution is the consequence of a leak that occurred overnight from Wednesday to Thursday in the Lavéra petrochemical complex. The industrial group Kem One, European number 2 in PVC, detected it "at the level of a ferric chloride solution storage tank in the production workshop" of this site classified as Seveso high threshold.
"An accidental spreading of this leak to the storm sewer network occurred, resulting in a liquid discharge towards the Anse d'Auguette", adds the industrialist. This highly corrosive chemical, used in particular for the treatment of wastewater, then turned into a brown acid solution on contact with the sea, forming a toxic slick of about six hectares in the Big Blue. Forty men from the Marseille fire brigade battalion (BMPM) and ten firefighters were sent to the site of the incident, which left no injuries, according to the Kem One group. An investigation is underway to clarify the circumstances of this leak.
The Mediterranean maritime prefecture specifies that the Pioneer, a support and assistance vessel for the French Navy, specializing in pollution control, has been deployed on site "in order to contribute to ongoing operations". In addition, a decree banning boating, sea fishing, scuba diving and swimming in the southern part of the Gulf of Fos, from Ponteau beach to Cape Couronne, has been issued.
Petrochemical sites already sued
The Lavéra petrochemical site is part of one of the largest industrial complexes in Europe, around the Etang de Berre, which generates pollution that regularly arouses the fears of the inhabitants of the surroundings. In October 2019, some of them had notably sued four industrialists, the chemist Kem One, ArcelorMittal, Esso and the Fos-sur-Mer oil depot, for “disturbing the neighborhood”.
"Kem One Martigues-Lavéra has been the subject of four formal notice since 2016," asserts the Robin des Bois association. The latest dated December 26, 2019, gave notice to the operator to strengthen the safety of its chlorine storage by March 31, 2020 at the latest. ”The Kem One plant in Lavéra is one of the major chlorochemical production sites. European. In particular, it produces chlorine, soda, hydrogen and bleach. "This accident nine months after Lubrizol brings up to date the difficult cohabitation between the Seveso high threshold factories and other human activities", estimates Charlotte Nithart, who follows this file within Robin des Bois.
"The services of the ministry are on site"
"The repetition of formal notice on this site and the lack of timely updating of its hazard study shows that the operator does not consider the protection of workers, populations and the environment as a priority, ”denounces the NGO.
Contacted this Thursday afternoon, the Ministry of Ecological Transition did not respond to us. “The services of the Ministry are on site to establish the circumstances of this leak and analyze its consequences on the natural environment. The damage that will be observed will be repaired by those responsible ”, Minister Barbara Pompili indicated in a tweet this evening.
The services of the @Ecologie_Gouv ministry are on site to establish the circumstances of this leak and analyze its consequences on natural environments. Any damage found will be repaired by those responsible. #Martigues https://t.co/LA5a0RLoaS
- Barbara Pompili (@barbarapompili) July 23, 2020