Posts under ‘Oil Company Profits’

Global Witness

Despite windfall tax and record profits, Shell paid just £15 million to UK, 22p per Brit last year

By comparison Norway received £6.3 billion from Shell, over a grand per Norwegian

28th March 2023, London – Energy giant Shell paid just £15 million in taxes and fees to the UK last year on their drilling, compared to over £6.3 billion to the Norwegian government over the same period, according to Global Witness analysis of Shell’s latest tax reporting, released today.

This means Shell paid around just 22p per UK citizen, compared to the £1,171 it paid for every citizen of Norway. This £15 million is much closer to the £9.7 million it awarded its CEO in 2022, than the considerably more it paid to most other countries in which it drills. read more

Shell publishes reports on Sustainability, Climate & Energy Transition Lobbying and Payments to Governments

28 MAR 2023

Shell plc has published its 2022 Sustainability Report, its 2022 Climate and Energy Transition Lobbying Report and its 2022 Payments to Governments Report.

Shell has been formally reporting on sustainability-related performance for more than 25 years, with the aim of being transparent about activities that are important to investors, governments, and civil society. The Shell Sustainability Report outlines our social, safety and environmental performance in 2022 and sets out our progress in transitioning our business to net-zero emissions. read more

The Washington Post

Advocacy group accuses Shell of ‘greenwashing’ and misleading investors in SEC complaint

Analysis by Maxine Joselow with research by Vanessa Montalbano

February 1, 2023 at 8:03 a.m. EST

An advocacy group is accusing the oil giant Royal Dutch Shell of misleading investors by classifying its investments in natural gas as spending on renewable energy.

In a complaint filed today with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the group Global Witness argues that Shell’s classifications amount to “greenwashing” — the practice of portraying a business or product as more environmentally friendly than it really is. read more

The Guardian

Calls for bigger windfall tax after Shell makes ‘obscene’ $40bn profit

Sunak government under pressure after gas prices fuel ‘outrageous’ doubling of profits at Anglo-Dutch group

• Shell’s spending on renewables ‘a fraction of what it claims’

• Nearly 14,000 Nigerians sue over pollution impact

Alex Lawson Energy correpondent: Thu 2 Feb 2023 14.13 GMT

The government is under pressure to rethink its windfall tax on energy companies after Shell reported one of the largest profits in UK corporate history, with the surge in energy prices sparked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine pushing the oil company’s annual takings to $40bn (£32bn).

Opposition parties and trade unions described Shell’s bonanza, the biggest in its 115 year history, as “outrageous” and accused Rishi Sunak of letting fossil fuel companies “off the hook”.

On Thursday, the UK headquartered company confirmed it had paid just $134m in British windfall taxes during 2022. It paid $520m under the EU “solidarity contribution” – Europe’s equivalent of the windfall tax. read more

BBC NEWS

Shell reports highest profits in 115 years

Oil and gas giant Shell has reported record annual profits after energy prices surged last year following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

By Simon Jack & Nick Edser: 2 FEB 2023

Profits hit $39.9bn (£32.2bn) in 2022, double last year’s total and the highest in its 115-year history.

Energy firms have seen record earnings since oil and gas prices jumped following the invasion of Ukraine.

It has heaped pressure on firms to pay more tax as households struggle with rising bills.

Opposition parties said Shell’s profits were “outrageous” and the government was letting energy firms “off the hook”. They also called for the planned increase in the energy price cap due in April to be scrapped. read more

Greenpeace climate justice activists board and occupy Shell platform en route to major oilfield with message: ‘STOP DRILLING. START PAYING.’

Greenpeace International: 31 Jan 2023

Amsterdam, Netherlands – Greenpeace activists from Argentina, Turkey, the US and the UK have boarded a Shell contracted vessel in the Atlantic Ocean with a banner bearing the message: “Stop Drilling. Start Paying”.

Just two days ahead of Shell’s profits announcement, four Greenpeace International activists boarded the White Marlin vessel at sea north of the Canary Islands in a peaceful protest against the climate devastation around the world caused by Shell and the wider fossil fuel industry, without paying a penny towards loss and damage. read more

Evening Standard

New Shell boss launches overhaul as executive roles cut

Wael Sawan, who took over at the start of this month, said the changes will take place from July.

By Henry Saker-Clark: 30 JAN 2023

Shell has revealed it will combine its oil and gas production and liquified natural gas (LNG) divisions as part of an overhaul by its new chief executive.

The new operation, which will combine Shell’s most profitable divisions, is to be led by Zoe Yujnovich, currently the group’s upstream director.

Shell confirmed the shake-up will reduce the size of its executive committee from nine to seven members in order to “simplify the organisation further and improve performance”. read more

The Telegraph

Shell reconsiders £25bn investment in UK energy over windfall tax raid

Levies will force oil giant to ‘rerun the economics’ on future projects, says UK chairman

By Matt Oliver and Szu Ping Chan: 21 November 2022 • 7:03pm

Shell is reviewing plans to invest £25bn in Britain’s energy system after Jeremy Hunt raided the industry for £55bn in windfall taxes.

David Bunch, Shell’s UK chairman, said the expanded levy announced in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement is forcing the company to re-examine a slew of projects in the pipeline, from North Sea investments to renewable energy schemes. read more

The Telegraph

Once again, an American president targets UK companies to win votes

Shell and BP’s windfall profits have made them an easy target for Biden’s populism

BEN MARLOW: CHIEF CITY COMMENTATOR

2 November 2022 • 6:00am

Calling on the oil and gas industry to “stop war profiteering”, Biden said: “The oil industry has a choice. Either invest in America by lowering prices for consumers at the pump and increasing production and refining capacity. Or pay a higher tax on your excessive profits and face other restrictions.” read more

THE HERALD

Shell chief to receive compensation for loss of office

THE outgoing chief executive of oil and gas giant Shell is to receive a year’s salary by way of compensation for loss of office.

Ben van Beurden will receive £1.42 million when he steps down at the end of this year, which is to be paid in six instalments. Shell said outstanding payments will be reduced by 50 per cent if he secures a paid position, excluding non-executive directorships, in that time.

The company also said that Mr van Beurden will continue to receive his base salary until the end June next year. The London-listed Anglo-Dutch energy giant said that a pro-rated annual bonus in relation to performance year 2023 will be determined by Shell’s remuneration committee after June next year.

Shell said the 2021 and 2022 long term incentive awards will be reduced to reflect the portion of the performance period that has elapsed to June next year. read more

EXPRESS

Shell faces energy fury as £31bn bumper profits could pay for 2.1m heat pumps for Britons

In just the third quarter of the year, UK-based energy giant Shell raked in profits of £8.2billion.

By ANTONY ASHKENAZ: 22:10, Thu, Oct 27, 2022 | UPDATED: 22:16, Thu, Oct 27, 2022

New analysis has found that over the past twelve months, energy giant Shell has generated a staggering £31billion in excess profits. This has prompted fury among critics, as millions of Britons face unprecedented energy bill hikes, crippling inflation and a major cost of living crisis. Today, Shell has announced profits of £8.2billion for the third quarter of this year. The business said it made adjusted earnings of $9.5billion US dollars over the three months down from $11.5billion (£9.9billion) the quarter before. According to Global Witness, which conducted the analysis, this profit earned by the energy giant was in addition to the profits that they would make in a normal year. read more

BBC NEWS

Shell pays no UK windfall tax despite profits jump

By Michael Race: Business reporter, BBC News: 27 Oct 2022

Shell has reported its second highest quarterly profit on record but it has not paid the UK’s windfall tax on energy firms.

The energy giant said global profits reached $9.5bn (£8.2bn) between July and September, compared to $4.2bn during the same period last year.

However, Shell said that because it had made large investments in the UK, it meant it had made no profit here.

It also does not expect to start paying windfall taxes until early next year.

The Energy Price Levy – or windfall tax – on the profits of energy firms was announced by Rishi Sunak in May, when he was chancellor. At the time he said it would raise £5bn in its first year. read more

Biden says Shell is misusing its profits by not cutting gas prices

Thu, October 27, 2022 at 10:01 PM

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (Reuters) – U.S. President Joe Biden blasted Shell plc on Thursday for funneling profits to shareholders rather than lowering gas prices, after the British oil giant said it would boost its dividend and buy back shares.

Shell earlier on Thursday said its third-quarter profit was a near-record $9.45 billion, as it sharply boosted its dividend by 15% and announced plans to buy $4 billion more of stock over the next three months. read more

Evening Standard

Shell yet to pay any extra windfall tax, bosses confirm

By August Graham: 27 Oct 2022

Oil giant Shell has avoided paying any extra windfall tax despite making record profits so far this year as the business said it was investing heavily in the North Sea.

The company said that it does not expect to pay any extra tax this year due to the Government’s decision in May to put a windfall tax on North Sea oil and gas producers.

Finance boss Sinead Gorman told reporters on Thursday that the company had done enough over recent months to avoid the tax – which allowed companies to get tax relief in exchange for investment.

“Heavy capex (capital expenditure) has meant that we haven’t had extra tax coming through in this quarter yet,” she said.

“I do expect to see that extra tax … to happen quite early in the first quarter of 2023, but we’ll see what plays out with prices as well.” read more

The Telegraph

Shell in talks with Government as ministers consider new windfall tax

Oil and gas giant did not pay any tax in Britain, despite an existing windfall scheme

By Rachel Millard: 27 October 2022 • 5:48pm

Shell is in talks with the Government as ministers consider a fresh windfall tax on oil and gas companies to help fill a £35bn black hole in the public finances.

Ben van Buerden, chief executive of the oil and gas giant, said he accepted the case for higher taxes after the industry was boosted by surging fossil fuel prices following Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. read more

global witness

Energy giant Shell has already made £31bn in excess profits over past year

Analysis of Shell Q3 profits shows their 12 month windfall profits could pay for 12.5 million UK energy bills

27th October 2022, London – UK-based fossil fuel giant Shell has made £31 billion in excess profits over the past twelve months, while Brits have seen energy bill hikes drive an acute cost of living crisis, according to Global Witness analysis of the company’s third quarter profits reported today.

This is money Shell has made in addition to their “normal,” but already high, profits, and was spurred by high global energy prices. See notes for full methodology. It could pay for:

• The energy bills of 12.5 million British households, or

• Almost half of the £68 billion the government needs to help its citizens with high energy bills, or

• Heat pumps for 2.1 million UK homes, that would protect families from energy price volatility, or

• The energy bills of everyone on universal credit; plus emergency aid for all 19 million Yemeni’s caught in one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters; plus emergency shelter for all of the victims of Pakistan’s climate crisis caused floods – and still leave £17.1 billion in excess profits for Shell’s shareholders. (2)

These extraordinary windfalls come as Shell announced overall adjusted earnings of $9.5 billion this quarter, a slight drop from its record last quarter, but much higher than the company has averaged in recent years. This at a time when the UK government debates how best to support its citizens through a cost-of-living crisis that could see 3 million more British people – and 30 percentage of all UK children (3) – living in poverty from next year. read more