Shell is being charged with a major explosion at the Moerdijk plant in 2014. Apart from the explosion, the oil and gas company was also summoned for the leakage of the toxic ethylene oxide from November 2015 to January 2016 in the same industrial area. The Public Prosecutor confirmed that Friday.
English translation of a Dutch article published by ncr.nl
Prosecuting Shell after Moerdijk explosions
Erik van der Walle: March 2, 2019
Shell is being charged with a major explosion at the Moerdijk plant in 2014. Apart from the explosion, the oil and gas company was also summoned for the leakage of the toxic ethylene oxide from November 2015 to January 2016 in the same industrial area. The Public Prosecutor confirmed that Friday.
On June 3, 2014 a reactor of the factory in Moerdijk exploded and other explosions and a fire followed by an unexpected reaction between substances. Due to the calamity, two people were injured. The damage went into the millions. The Dutch Safety Board concluded that the company did not pay enough attention to the risks.
At the end of January 2016, Shell Moerdijk discovered a leak of the hazardous and carcinogenic ethylene oxide. Because a valve was left open, almost 28 tons of the toxic substance had escaped from November 21, 2015. The Dutch Safety Board concluded that the safety risks had been estimated incorrectly.
The criminal case against Shell for the calamities in Moerdijk on 14 and 16 May at the court in Den Bosch. A Shell spokesperson said that the company regretted the course of events in Moerdijk. “Shell sincerely regrets for neighbours, customers and other stakeholders what has happened. We understand that the Public Prosecution Service has proceeded to summons. Shell Moerdijk has taken measures to prevent repetition.”
It was also announced on Friday that the Public Prosecution Service is prosecuting Shell’s involvement in a possible corruption case in Nigeria. (ANP)
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