Ogoni Clean Up is Nigeria’s Ridiculous Image Laundering and Hypocritical Oil Resumption Programme read more

India-West Staff Reporter:20 March 2019

A former employee of Royal Dutch Shell Oil, who had worked with the company for more than 20 years, filed a lawsuit Dec. 10, 2018 in Harris County, Texas District Court, alleging he was discriminated against because of his national origin, which the multinational corporation wrongly perceived as Indian.

Sri Raghunatha Venkatesawra Babu Bangauru, a resident of Houston, Texas, who had renounced his Indian citizenship and holds a U.K. passport, alleged in his lawsuit that the company has an “ugly trend, growing more apparent during the tightening at Shell, in which white or non-Indian workers are favored by the company.” read more

The MOSOP President said the gradual militarization of Ogoniland only remind the Ogoni people of the evil Shell and  Nigeria have done to us in the past which led to the death of over 4,000 Ogonis.

MOSOP STATEMENT

The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) says it is becoming increasingly clear that the Nigerian government is not bothered about the genocide against the Ogoni people in Nigeria.

Speaking in Bodo, Gokana local government area of Rivers State on Sunday, March 17, 2019, president of MOSOP, Fegalo Nsuke said the Nigerian government does not care about the poor living conditions in Ogoniland. He accused the Nigerian government of using the Ogoni cleanup program to deceive the people while their real intention is to resume oil production in the area without the consent of the Ogoni people. read more

Last week it emerged that Ben van Beurden received more than €20 million as Royal Dutch Shell boss for 2018. This prompted howls of outrage from the usual sources.

Graham Ruddick: MARCH 18, 2019

Napoleon Bonaparte and Dwight Eisenhower said they wanted lucky generals rather than great ones. FTSE chairmen, however, seem to have little interest in luck when it comes to their chief executives.

That is one conclusion to draw from the debate about executive pay that is reigniting as we enter AGM season. Last week it emerged that Ben van Beurden received more than €20 million as Royal Dutch Shell boss for 2018. This prompted howls of outrage from the usual sources. read more

Ben Van Beurden’s total pay package soared by 126% last year: Last year, over a quarter of Shell’s investors voted against Mr van Beurden’s pay at the energy giant’s annual meeting

By JANE DENTON FOR THISISMONEY: PUBLISHED: 16:01, 14 March 2019 | UPDATED: 16:04, 14 March 2019

The boss of oil and gas giant Royal Dutch Shell received a 126 per cent pay rise last year.

Chief executive Ben Van Beurden pocketed over £17million, including a long-term incentive plan linked sum of £12.8million, up from £7.6million, and a £2.5million bonus.

In its latest results, the group said: ‘As a consequence of the LTIP vesting in particular, the single figure of remuneration for the CEO is significantly higher this year than in previous years.’ read more

Shell’s CEO Ben van Beurden bows to Russian Leader Putin: Good Friday, 18 April 2014

Yesterday the Dutch newspaper Financieele Dagblad published a truly devastating article Shell gas leaks, fires and accidents about Shell playing fast and loose with the health and lives of its employees. Today there is mass coverage of the outrage over the £17m pay package awarded to Shell CEO Ben van Beurden. The revulsion also has to be seen against the damaging litigation engulfing the energy giant, including OPL 245 corruption charges and a related raid on Shell HQ involving BvB and his then CFO, Simon Henry. Both were embarrassed by a wiretapped conversation between them discussing obstructing the investigation and the revelation by BvB that Shell had hired hapless former MI6 “people” who had been cavalier with Shell’s OPL 245 secrets. Why is Shell rewarding such behaviour, which is completely at odds with Shell’s claimed business principles?  

Shell chief’s pay doubles to 143 times average UK employee’s

The chief executive of oil-company Shell saw his pay more than double last year to more than €20m (£17m). Ben van Beurden’s total salary in 2017, which was approximately €9m, prompted a shareholder revolt. The raise comes as the company increased its annual profits by almost $10bn and is largely down to long-term incentives kicking in. Dutchman Mr van Beurden’s pay is now 143 times larger than the average Shell employee in the UK. read more

Shell Annual Report 2018: CLIMATE CHANGE LITIGATION

CLIMATE CHANGE LITIGATION
In the USA, 12 lawsuits have been filed by several municipalities and one state against oil and gas companies, including Royal Dutch Shell plc. The plaintiffs seek damages for claimed harm to their public and private infrastructure from rising sea levels allegedly due to climate change caused by the defendants’ fossil fuel products. A similar suit has been filed by a crab fishing industry group claiming harm to their fisheries as a result of alleged ocean-related impacts of climate change. Management believes the outcome of these matters should be resolved in a manner favourable to Shell, however, there remains a high degree of uncertainty regarding the ultimate outcome of these lawsuits, as well as their potential effect on future operations, earnings, cash flows and Shell’s financial condition. read more

…there remains a high degree of uncertainty regarding the potential outcome of some of these pending lawsuits, as well as their potential effect on future operations, earnings, cash flows and Shell’s financial condition.

Shell Annual Report 2018: PESTICIDE LITIGATION

PESTICIDE LITIGATION
Shell Oil Company (SOC), along with another agricultural chemical pesticide manufacturer and several distributors, has been sued by public and quasi- public water purveyors alleging responsibility for groundwater contamination caused by applications of chemical pesticides. There are approximately 45 such cases currently pending. These suits assert various theories of strict liability and negligence, and seek to recover actual damages, including drinking well treatment and remediation costs. Most assert claims for punitive damages. While the Company continues to vigorously defend these lawsuits, a new environmental regulatory standard became effective in the State of California, where a majority of the suits are pending. The new standard requires public water systems state wide to perform quarterly or monthly sampling of their drinking water sources for a chemical contained in certain pesticides, beginning in January 2018. Water systems deemed out of compliance with the new five parts per trillion regulatory standard must take corrective action to resolve the exceedance or take the potable water source out of service. In response to this new regulatory standard, the Company is monitoring the sampling results to determine the number of wells potentially impacted. Based on the claims asserted and SOC’s track record, with regard to amounts paid to resolve varying claims, management does not expect the outcome of these lawsuits pending at December 31, 2018, to have a material adverse impact on Shell. However, there remains a high degree of uncertainty regarding the potential outcome of some of these pending lawsuits, as well as their potential effect on future operations, earnings, cash flows and Shell’s financial condition. read more

In February 2019, we were informed by the Dutch Public Prosecutor’s Office (DPP) that they are nearing the conclusion of their investigation and are preparing to prosecute Royal Dutch Shell plc for criminal charges directly or indirectly related to the 2011 settlement of disputes over OPL 245 in Nigeria. Investigations by authorities in other jurisdictions are ongoing.

Any violation of the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act or other relevant anti-bribery, anti-corruption or anti-money laundering legislation could have a material adverse effect on Royal Dutch Shell plc’s earnings, cash flows and financial condition.

Shell Annual Report 2018: NIGERIAN LITIGATION

NIGERIAN LITIGATION
Shell subsidiaries and associates operating in Nigeria are parties to various environmental and contractual disputes brought in the courts of Nigeria, England and the Netherlands. These disputes are at different stages in litigation, including at the appellate stage, where judgements have been rendered against Shell entities. If taken at face value, the aggregate amount of these judgements could be seen as material. Management, however, believes that the outcomes of these matters will ultimately be resolved in a manner favourable to Shell. However, there remains a high degree of uncertainty regarding these cases, as well as their potential effect on future operations, earnings, cash flows and Shell’s financial condition. read more

In brief

*The number of accidents per man-hour worked has risen again for the first time in a long time last year.

*A series of incidents, criminal investigations and warnings from regulators are damaging Shell’s safety image.

*Shell CEO Van Beurden himself is also not satisfied and wants to do more to guarantee safety.

Printed below is an English translation of an article published today by the Dutch Financial Times, Financieele Dagblad.

Beeld: Getty Images/ bewerking: FD Studio

Shells gas leaks, fires and accidents

Bert van Dijk: 13 March 2019

Last year the number of accidents per hour worked increased at the oil company. Supervisors warn that Shell needs to do more about safety.

In December 2017, during regular maintenance work, a lifeboat suddenly came loose on the Shell platform Brent Alpha in the North Sea. The lifeboat fell into the sea and was recovered a day later. Although no one is injured, it was not the first time. In 2008, it was discovered that two lifeboats on another nearby Shell platform, Brent Bravo, were technically in such poor condition that they had to be replaced. And in 2007 a rescue boat on another Shell platform broke loose and collapsed into the sea. read more

…peace-loving Ogoni citizens whose lives have been rendered miserable by years of state repression and environmental devastation from Shell’s long years of pollution.

MOSOP Rejects Oil Resumption, NNPC/NPDC Take Over of Ogoni Oilfields

Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) wishes to express its strong rejection of the directive by the Nigerian President for the NNPD/NPDC takeover of Ogoni oilfields and the resumption of oil production in Ogoni as reflected in a communication by the Chief of Staff to the President Abba Kyari.

Indeed, it is appalling that despite the severe impact this directive will have on the lives of the Ogoni people, this decision had been taken without consultations with the Ogoni people nor were our inputs sought in such a crucial issue that affect our lives. read more

Royal Dutch Shell News 12 March 2019:

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Mar. 11, 2019 1:59 PM ET|About: Royal Dutch Shell plc (RDS.A)| By: Carl Surran, SA News Editor

Colombia’s government says it signed two offshore exploration and production contracts with Royal Dutch Shell (RDS.A, RDS.B) that will require the company to make $100M in initial investments.

Shell’s investment could surpass $650M if exploration continues, according to the president of Colombia’s National Hydrocarbons Agency.

The government recently modified contractual terms for offshore exploration and launched a new process that allows companies to apply to explore in areas of interest, offering 20 blocks as part of a strategy to boost the oil sector. read more

Mark Robinson

Last week, Royal Dutch Shell (RDSB) revealed that it is facing charges in the Netherlands relating to corruption allegations surrounding a Nigerian oil bloc called OPL 245. Shell and Italian major ENI SpA (ENI.IM) acquired the licence in 2011 for around $1.3bn (£992m), but it’s alleged that a significant proportion of the monies was destined for use as kickbacks for politicians and officials, with former Nigerian oil minister Dan Etete – a convicted money launderer – acting as the principal intermediary. Although the funds were paid to the Nigerian government, it’s claimed that they found their way into the coffers of Malabu Oil and Gas — a company linked to Mr Etete. read more

By John Donovan

Shell internal email correspondence relating to the OPL 245 oil deal has been very revealing and may seal the fate of defendants in the Italian trial, including the former MI6 people hired by Shell. Their names, Guy Colgate and John Copleston, appeared on the emails. read more

By Kelly Gilblom, Sergio Di Pasquale and Chiara Albanese: 6 March 2019, 16:24 GMT

Richard Granier-Deferre testified in Milan Wednesday

Shell, Eni accused of participating in corrupt 2011 oil deal

A retired Swiss oil executive who previously said he had knowledge of illicit dealings over a Nigerian oil block involving Royal Dutch Shell Plc and Eni SpA reversed his statements at a trial in Milan Wednesday.

“I’ve never had contact with Shell,” ex-executive Richard Granier-Deferre said. “I’ve never had relations with people from Eni in my entire career.”

The trial centers on Oil Prospecting License 245, offshore Nigeria, which has snowballed into one of the largest scandals over alleged corruption in the industry’s history. Italian prosecutors are arguing that when Shell and Eni paid more than $1 billion to settle legal disputes over the block and acquire rights to develop it, much of that payment went into bribes and kickbacks. On Friday, Shell said it is also facing criminal charges in its home country of The Netherlands over the block. read more

By John Donovan

Printed below are extracts from Shell’s Annual Report and Form 20-F 2016 relating to the OPL 245 corruption scandal. Shell confirmed that authorities “in various countries” are investigating its investment in Nigerian Oil Block OPL 245. 

Page 15

Authorities in various countries are investigating our investment in Nigerian oil block OPL 245 and the 2011 settlement of litigation pertaining to that block. On January 27, 2017, the Nigeria Federal High Court issued an Interim Order of Attachment for oil block OPL 245, pending the conclusion of the investigation. Shell has applied to discharge this order on constitutional and procedural grounds. On February 14, 2017, we received notice of the request of indictment from the Italian prosecution office in Milan with respect to this matter. read more