Pollution
Humain
Environnement
Economique

At night, 4,900 m³ of non-compliant home heating oil (containing 17% unleaded gasoline) were delivered by a refinery to a bulk storage company and then partially distributed over the following days to several thousand consumers via a distribution network encompassing 11 departments in north-western France. The fuel oil – unleaded gasoline mix – yielded a 22°C flashpoint (instead of 55°C for «pure» fuel oil), thus leaving it easily flammable and capable of forming an explosive atmosphere in a confined setting (e.g. storage tank). On the same day, a small explosion occurred while filling a delivery truck inside a fuel retailer; the 2 on-site managers sustained slight burns to their foreheads yet did not call emergency services. In all, 2,600 m³ were distributed to 2,070 firms or individuals.A break in the seal between pipelines connecting the refinery to 2 bulk storage facilities caused this incident. A valve designed to isolate the 2 pipelines delivering gasoline and fuel oil simultaneously to the 2 facilities had not been correctly closed, yet this information relayed to the control room was erroneous.