US oil giant Chevron has been ordered to pay Ecuador $9.5 bn (7.07 bn euros) for environmental damage to its Amazon basin region by its sister company Texaco.

The court ruling however slashed the original fine of $18 billion (13.3 bn euros).

The case dates back to the years between 1964 to 1990 when Texaco operated in the South American nation and concerns an oil spillage which villagers claim contaminated their water supply.