ABUJA, July 30 – Internal documents linked to Shell’s former operations in Nigeria’s Niger Delta have sparked fresh debate over ageing infrastructure, oil spill management and a possible $10.9 billion bill for decommissioning old facilities.
The documents were examined in a new report by Amnesty International titled Nigeria: Lifting the Lid. The report reviews internal Shell emails, technical audits, presentations and confidential company records that became public during legal proceedings in the United Kingdom.
According to Amnesty International, the records suggest Shell was aware of infrastructure and environmental risks while continuing to operate some facilities with the group saying the findings raises questions about how the company handled long-term environmental responsibilities in the Niger Delta.
The report also challenges Shell’s long-held position that oil theft and sabotage were the main causes of pollution in the region.
Amnesty International said the documents pointed to concerns over pipeline conditions, maintenance, safety standards and the company’s ability to detect and assess oil spills. It also claimed that some illegal pipeline connections were left in place because removing them would have interrupted crude oil production.
The report further stated that Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) received exemptions from parts of the company’s global health and safety standards, while internal audits identified a maintenance backlog and more than 1,600 pipeline clamps, including older ones whose locations could not be confirmed.
Other records reviewed by Amnesty showed that, as of 2013, SPDC pipelines did not have a real-time monitoring system. A separate 2014 report also raised concerns about hundreds of oil wells that were either missing from electronic tracking systems or whose condition could not be verified.
The report also highlighted the old Nembe Creek Trunk Line, saying about 80 kilometres of the pipeline remained filled with crude oil after it was replaced in 2010.
Shell rejected Amnesty International’s claims, saying the report does not reflect the difficult operating conditions in the Niger Delta at the time adding that the company remains committed to honesty, integrity and respect for people.
