Shell needs to shell out the cash

Could Royal Dutch Shell finally be held accountable for some of its misdeeds? A Nigerian court has found Shell guilty of massive environmental degradation and has ordered the multinational to pay $1.5 billion in damages. Of course, whether the company actually pays up is another story- it won’t admit to this and other despicable acts, and we only have to look as far as another oil giant, ExxonMobil, to see that Big Oil seems to be exempt from paying court fees.

Could Royal Dutch Shell finally be held accountable for some of its misdeeds? A Nigerian court has found Shell guilty of massive environmental degradation and has ordered the multinational to pay $1.5 billion in damages. Of course, whether the company actually pays up is another story- it won’t admit to this and other despicable acts, and we only have to look as far as another oil giant, ExxonMobil, to see that Big Oil seems to be exempt from paying court fees.

Shell has a baaaad rap. Just recently nine contracted employees were taking hostage by kidnappers demanding that more of Nigeria’s people experience oil wealth first hand. They have also been the target of international boycotts following the execution death of Ken Saro-Wiwa and hundreds of other Ogoni people protesting Shell’s negative environmental and human rights practices. Shell seems to have bad relationships with local communities and good relationships with militants. And, Shell is notorious for its spills.

According to The Shell Report 2004, the Royal Dutch/Shell Group of Companies was responsible for spilling 53,886,442 liters (14,235,292 gallons) of crude and synthetic based oil between 2000 and 2004. That’s enough oil to fill the United States Capitol rotunda from floor to ceiling and two thirds of London’s St. Paul’s Cathedral. A 2005 Toyota Camry could travel around the world 19,436 times on the amount of oil Royal Dutch/Shell Group of Companies spilled in just five years. And it wouldn’t have to worry about running a flat—Shell spilled enough oil in 2005 to make 171,000 spare tires!

The Royal Dutch/Shell Group made U.S. equivalent $10 billion in the last quarter of the 2004 fiscal year. In the same fiscal year, the company was responsible for flaring 10,242,877 liters (2,705,882 gallons) of gas, spilling 7,348,150.54 liters (1,941,176 gallons) of crude and synthetic based oils, and emitting 12,000,000 tones of greenhouse gasses.

This oil giant needs to pay this relatively miniscule fine. It would be a crime if they evaded this the way ExxonMobil is evading the Exxon Valdez court fines.

(Credit Z.S.B. Brown for his facts and figures on Shell.)