Oil firm breaks environmental rules nearly 500 times

A company which owns an oil refinery in Cheshire has admitted breaching environmental regulations nearly 500 times.

Four of the offences included discharging higher-than-permitted levels of cyanide into the Manchester Ship Canal, a nearby river and a local brook.

The offences were committed between 2018 and 2020.

Essar, which runs the Stanlow oil refinery in Ellesmere Port, has apologised for breaking the rules 491 times over a four-year period.

It pleaded guilty to 12 charges brought by the Environment Agency at Chester Magistrates' Court. The case will be heard again on 14 July for case management at Warrington Magistrates' Court.

A spokeswoman for Essar said the company "takes its responsibilities for wastewater management extremely seriously" and has taken steps to "address the causes of these breaches".

She added: "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."