In the United States, the managers of an oil pipeline have pleaded guilty to pollution. They will have to pay $13 million for an oil spill that occurred in October 2021 off California.
With our correspondent in New York, Loubna Anaki
This oil spill had dealt a blow to tourism and fishing in the South Los Angeles area. Over 24 kilometers, between Huntington Beach and Laguna Beach, the famous Californian beaches had to be closed for two weeks when 95,000 liters of crude oil ended up in the ocean.
Prosecuted, Amplify Energy, the Texas company that operates this oil platform has agreed to plead guilty and recognize its responsibility in this environmental disaster. The company claims to have installed new leak detectors and undertakes to carry out regular inspections to prevent any new leaks.
Amplify Energy and its two subsidiaries will also have to pay a fine of $7 million plus $5.8 million to offset cleanup costs.
The agreement also puts an end to the dozens of civil lawsuits against the Texas company. But everything still has to be validated by a judge.
This oil spill had revived the debate on the presence of oil platforms off highly populated areas. No less than 23 oil and gas platforms are installed off southern California.