One of the UK's largest oil refineries, EET Fuels' Stanlow refinery, reportedly spilled pollution into local rivers and the Mersey Estuary dozens of times in 2023 and 2024, according to documents shared with the BBC.
Reports from the Environment Agency (EA), uncovered by SourceMaterial, indicate that permitted levels for chemical releases were exceeded hundreds of times during this period. The EA has determined this resulted in EET Fuels breaking its permit conditions 58 times, which could constitute an illegal offence.
The spills reportedly involved toxic chemicals such as cyanide, benzene, and heavy oils, released into the air and waterways including Thornton Brook and the River Gowy, which connect to the Mersey Estuary. The Mersey Estuary is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a habitat for endangered species.
In one incident in September 2024, over a tonne of oil was released into Thornton Brook and spread to the Mersey Estuary. This led to the closure of local cockle beds for five weeks while water quality was tested by the Food Standards Agency (FSA), causing a delay in income for fishers.
The Environment Agency has confirmed it is investigating the breaches and has launched a separate criminal investigation into the September 2024 incident. Natural England, which regulates SSSIs, initially investigated the 2024 incident but later dropped it, stating the environmental impact on the SSSI was minor.