TOTAL EXPECTS PROSECUTION

THE GUARDIAN. French energy group Total said on Sunday it expects to be prosecuted over a large gas leak at a North Sea oil rig in 2012.

A report into the incident at the Elgin platform, which lasted seven weeks and led to a one-year shutdown, was passed to the prosecution authorities in Scotland by the Health and Safety Executive after a two-year investigation, the Guardian reported on Friday.

The HSE refused to comment on the report's contents. A Total spokesman said on Sunday night: "The report recommends proceedings are taken against the company for breaches of the Health & Safety at Work Act and the Offshore Installations and Wells Regulations."

Some environmental campaigners have said Total should not be allowed to frack for shale gas in Britain until it has been exonerated over the Elgin accident.

Lang Banks, Scotland director of environmental campaigners WWF, said it was "right and proper" that prosecutions be considered over the leak from the Elgin platform.

The length of the investigation had been criticised, but the HSE said it was right to take time over the issue.