Shell attributes oil spills in Niger Delta to Sabotage, oil theft, illegal refining as Dutch Court rules against it
By Eyo Nsima
Shell Petroleum Development Company Limited, has attributed most oil spill incidents in the Niger Delta to Sabotage, oil theft, and illegal refining.
In its response to the latest ruling by a Dutch appeals court, which ruled that it is responsible for damage caused by leaks in the region, the company stated: “We continue to believe that the spills in Oruma and Goi were the result of sabotage. We are therefore disappointed that this court has made a different finding on the cause of these spills and in its finding that SPDC is liable.
“Sabotage, crude oil theft, and illegal refining are a major challenge in the Niger Delta. Indeed in 2019 around 95% of spill incidents from our operations, there were due to such criminal acts. Regardless of the cause, we clean up and remediate, as we have done with the spills in this case. SPDC also works with a range of stakeholders to find solutions to these complex issues. Like all Shell-operated ventures globally, we are committed to operating safely and protecting the local environment.”
While delivering its judgment, the court ordered Shell Nigeria to pay compensation to Nigerian farmers, while the subsidiary and its Anglo-Dutch parent company were told to install equipment to prevent future damage.
The case dated back to 2008 when a group of farmers had headed to the court in 2008, attributing widespread pollution in the region to Shell.
The four farmers – Barizaa Dooh, Elder Friday Alfred Akpan, Chief Fidelis A Oguru, and Alali Efanga – had taken the case to court arguing that the leaks from underground oil pipelines had affected them negatively.
