Why California’s enormous oil spill won’t be its last

The state's ageing oil infrastructure means more disasters are likely as companies move away from fossil fuels

A gash in an underwater pipeline sent tens of thousands of gallons of oil rushing into the waters near Los Angeles last weekend, blackening beaches and endangering wildlife.

While the US Coast Guard believes a ship's anchor may have damaged the pipeline months ago, California's ageing oil infrastructure will also bear increasing scrutiny. Experts say that the devastating spill is unlikely to be the last, especially in a rapidly changing industry where equipment is primed to suffer from underinvestment and lack of attention.