Lakhasly

21 September 2001, a few dozen kilos of sodium dichloroisocyanurate (used in treating swimming pool water) was inadvertently mixed with 500 kg of ammonium nitrate in AZF's storage

• Ammonium nitrate had been spilled 20 Mixture resulted in an explosion measuring 3.4 on the Richter
• Explosion caused 7m deep x 40m wide crater
• Nitric acid and ammonia entered the River Garonne causing large-scale destruction of aquatic fauna and flora.31 people died
• 2 400 people were injured
• Many buildings, including 118 schools and 27 000 flats were damaged or destroyed
• Telecommunications and electricity networks were severely disturbed for days
• Over 1 200 households were relocated.

21 September 2001, a few dozen kilos of sodium dichloroisocyanurate (used in treating swimming pool water) was inadvertently mixed with 500 kg of ammonium nitrate in AZF’s storage
– Ammonium nitrate had been spilled 20 Mixture resulted in an explosion measuring 3.4 on the Richter
– Explosion caused 7m deep x 40m wide crater
– Nitric acid and ammonia entered the River Garonne causing large-scale destruction of aquatic fauna and flora. 31 people died
– 2 400 people were injured
– Many buildings, including 118 schools and 27 000 flats were damaged or destroyed
– Telecommunications and electricity networks were severely disturbed for days
– Over 1 200 households were relocated. – 100 000 demands for compensation from private individuals and companies
– Included nearly 1 300 companies, representing around 20 000 employees
– Insurance paid many claims but process was protracted
– Overall, Total and its insurers paid over €2 billion in compensation for bodily injury and property damage claims . Clean-up costs and rehabilitation of the site estimated at over
€250m
– Included over €100m spent by Grande Paroisse Group to rehabilitate the site
– (Grand Paroisse, owner of AZF, is part of Atofina, the chemical division of Total)
Monday, November 19, 20. Provided €24m to help reconstruct houses and public
infrastructure
– Allocated €10.4m to help companies affected by the explosion
– Provided €1.7m to affected companies in the form of tax exemptions
. 2009: civil trial of over 4 months against Grande Paroisse
Group
– Court of Justice of Toulouse
– Imposed €225 000 fine against Grande Paroisse Group
– imposed €45 000 fine against plant manager and 3 year suspended sentence
Monday, Nov. Public Prosecutor appealed
– November 2011: new trial involving
– 2 700 claimants
– 60 lawyers
– Over 200 witnesses
– 24 September 2012: Court of Appeal
– Confirmed €225 000 fine against Grande Paroisse Group
– Sentenced former plant manager to 1 year in prison for manslaughter