…this oil giant, with its impeccable track record of putting profits first, wants you to believe that most spills in the Niger Delta are caused by pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft. How innovative of them to recycle excuses!
POSTED BY JOHN DONOVAN 26 JUNE 2023
In a stunning display of corporate responsibility, Nigerian authorities and Shell’s local subsidiary have embarked on an investigative journey to uncover the cause of a spill on the Trans Niger pipeline, which persisted for an impressive number of days.
The Trans Niger pipeline, a humble conduit for exporting Bonny Light crude, decided to grace the region with yet another oil spill, this time in Eleme, Rivers state. The spill, detected on June 11, inconvenienced Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) to the extent that they had to confirm it four excruciating days later.
According to those pesky environmental rights groups, the spill managed to last an entire week before someone thought it might be a good idea to contain it.
To ensure a thorough examination of this awe-inspiring spill, a team consisting of SPDC, the Nigerian Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, and local communities ventured to the site on Monday. Their noble mission? To gather information, analyze data, examine physical evidence, and ultimately identify the causes of this oil spill masterpiece. We can only imagine the excitement and anticipation in the air.
Unsurprisingly, a Shell spokesperson confirmed the visit to the site, probably to bask in the glory of their achievement.
But fear not, for this investigation will go beyond simply measuring the volume of oil spilt. It will also give Shell the opportunity to showcase its extraordinary ability to shift blame. You see, this oil giant, with its impeccable track record of putting profits first, wants you to believe that most spills in the Niger Delta are caused by pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft. How innovative of them to recycle excuses!
In the midst of this remarkable feat of environmental destruction, Thandile Chinyavanhu, Greenpeace Africa climate and energy campaigner, had the audacity to demand accountability from Shell. How dare they question the sanctity of the oil industry and its neocolonial role in causing climate loss and damage?
To maintain a sense of journalistic integrity, we extend an invitation to Shell for a right of reply. Please, enlighten us with your wisdom, and feel free to correct any factual inaccuracies we may have committed. We eagerly await your closing comments to grace this article in their unedited splendour.
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