A few days after the announcement, by the Minister for Ecological Transition, of the imminent establishment of financial penalties against the Yara factory in Montoir-de-Bretagne (Loire-Atlantique), daily financial sanctions have indeed been decided by the prefecture. Located near Saint-Nazaire, this Seveso-classified chemical fertilizer producer is singled out for its “atmospheric emissions and aqueous discharges”, recalled the Minister Christophe Bechu. Pollution linked to “persistent findings of non-compliance” of its facilities.
Pending standardization, the Prefect of Loire-Atlantique therefore sanctions Yara with a financial penalty of 300 euros per day for breaches of safety rules and 150 euros per day for defects in environmental standards, noted West France.
Ministry follow-up
The Yara site in Montoir-de-Bretagne had been placed under “enhanced vigilance” by the State in July 2021. The compliance plan is the subject of “very careful monitoring”, assures the Minister of Transition ecological in a response to the socialist senator Yannick Vaugrenard. An assessment of the progress of the actions was carried out in November. A new assessment is scheduled for “early 2023”.
Owned by a Norwegian group, Yara produces ammonium nitrate-based fertilizer in Montoir. Sulfuric acid is one of the raw materials used in the manufacturing process.