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In 2021, a Carrefour tank in Santos leaked 10 liters of diesel oil, causing severe environmental damage. Ibama fined the chain R$12,5 million, but the company is trying to reverse the penalty. With contaminated beaches and dead fish, the case exposes management failures and raises awareness about the environmental responsibility of large corporations.
In an episode that exposed operational weaknesses and generated outrage in society, one of the largest retail chains in the world, Carrefour, became the protagonist of an environmental disaster that directly impacted the coast of Santos, in São Paulo.
The case, which involved a diesel oil leak, left traces not only on the environment, but also on the company's reputation.
According to Folha de S. Paul, in an article published this Friday (29), in May 2021, a supply tank for the emergency generator of a unit of the network in Shopping Praia Mar suffered a rupture in its structure, causing the spill of up to 10 thousand liters of S500 diesel oil.
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The material contaminated storm drains and reached beaches in the region, resulting in fish deaths, nausea among the population and profound environmental impacts.
O Ibama (Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources) quickly fined the company R$12,5 million, which is currently being judged.
The day of the leak and emergency actions
On May 4, 2021, at around 7:15 am, Ibama was notified by Civil Defense about a strong odor and the presence of oil in channel 6, which flows into Santos beach.
As reported by Folha de S. Paul, the problem started much earlier, around 2 am, when residents had already detected the smell, but Carrefour only recognized the incident hours later.
According to the investigation, the problem originated from a corroded clamp that secured the generator's fuel tank hose.
When the oil began to leak, it ran down the drain in the yard and went into the underground galleries, contaminating public roads and reaching the sea.
Authorities mobilized firefighters, the Municipal Guard and the Port of Santos, who sent barriers and absorbent blankets to contain the material. However, the oil had already spread.
The cleanup required the use of suction trucks and more than 8 liters of water. It was only at 15 p.m. that a company hired by Carrefour began mitigation actions.
Million-dollar fine and legal battle
Ibama fined Carrefour not only for the environmental damage, but also for the delay in reporting the incident and the slow initial response.
Folha de S. Paulo highlighted that the agency's technical areas have already confirmed the violation, indicating that the company will be obliged to pay the million-dollar fine.
The network, in turn, presented a defense and awaits the administrative outcome, but may appeal in court if Ibama maintains the decision.
Lasting impacts and Carrefour's response
S500 diesel oil, being a light material, quickly infiltrated the beach sand, making it difficult to remove completely. The effects of the spill were widely felt by the local population, who reported respiratory discomfort and concerns about water and food contamination.
In a statement, Carrefour said it had presented justifications to Ibama and declared that it was awaiting the final judgment.
However, the negative repercussions of the episode were amplified by recent controversies involving the network's CEO, Alexandre Bompard.
The executive had announced that Carrefour would stop buying meat from Mercosur due to alleged compliance issues, but backtracked after criticism and publicly apologized.
A stain on reputation
The incident in Santos was not only an environmental problem, but also a warning about the risks of a lack of preventive maintenance and rapid responses to emergencies.
Carrefour, which has already faced other image crises in Brazil, will have to deal with the weight of this new controversy, both financially and socially.
Will episodes like this make companies rethink their practices and responsibilities in Brazil, or will the impacts continue to be absorbed by local communities and the environment?
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