EET Fuels refinery allegedly breached toxic pollution limits dozens of times

EET Fuels, the operator of the Stanlow refinery in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, has allegedly breached environmental permit conditions 58 times during 2023 and 2024. Documents obtained by investigative journalists from SourceMaterial indicate that the refinery exceeded permitted chemical release levels hundreds of times, resulting in the discharge of toxic substances including cyanide, benzene, and heavy oils into the air, groundwater, and local waterways.

The spills affected Thornton Brook and the River Gowy, which flow into the Mersey Estuary, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) that serves as a habitat for rare birds and endangered species such as dolphins.

Stanlow is one of only four remaining refineries in the United Kingdom, processing approximately 10 million tonnes of crude oil annually and providing roughly 18% of the nation's road transport fuel. While EET Fuels previously pleaded guilty to 12 environmental law breaches occurring between 2018 and 2020, the Environment Agency has confirmed it is currently investigating these more recent incidents.