Difference between revisions of "Shell"
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− | The Royal-Dutch/Shell groups of companies is an Anglo-Dutch group, the holding companies who own the group being The Shell Transport and Trading Company PLC (UK) and Koninklijke Nederland (Royal Dutch Petroleum Company: Netherlands). These two holding companies own 40 per | + | [[File:Shell.JPG|right|thumb|270px|Shell Centre UK headquarters in London, SE1 7NA]] |
+ | The Royal-Dutch/Shell groups of companies is an Anglo-Dutch group, the holding companies who own the group being The Shell Transport and Trading Company PLC (UK) and Koninklijke Nederland (Royal Dutch Petroleum Company: Netherlands). These two holding companies own 40 per cent and 60 per cent respectively of the following three subsidiaries, which are themselves holding companies for further operating subsidiaries: | ||
* Shell Petroleum NV (Netherlands) | * Shell Petroleum NV (Netherlands) | ||
* Shell Petroleum Company LTD (UK) | * Shell Petroleum Company LTD (UK) | ||
* Shell Petroleum Inc. (USA) | * Shell Petroleum Inc. (USA) | ||
+ | The three companies and their operating subsidiaries are managed worldwide by Shell International. | ||
− | + | ==Re-positioning as a green oil giant== | |
+ | Over time Shell has successfully come to be seen as one of the more progressive companies within its sector. Since it withdrew from the [[Global Climate Coalition]] (lobby group) in 1998 <ref> [http://web.archive.org/web/20000815072356/http://www.worldwatch.org/chairman/issue/000725.html THE RISE AND FALL OF THE GLOBAL CLIMATE COALITION] ''Worldwatch Issue Alert,'' accessed 29 April 2015 </ref> Shell has tried hard to brand itself as a caring, green company. Even before that, a concerted public relations campaign had followed the execution (in November 1995) of Nigerian writer and campaigner Ken Saro Wiwa. <ref name= "Green">[http://web.archive.org/web/20020616102829/http://www.greenpeace.org/~comms/ken/murder.html Ken Saro Wiwa and 8 Ogoni People Executed:Blood on Shell's Hands] ''greenpeace.org'', accessed 29 April 2015</ref> Shell painstakingly portrays itself as a good corporate citizen, but like all multinationals and all oil companies Royal-Dutch/Shell continues, behind the greenwash, with many of its old ways. | ||
− | + | ===EU lobbying against renewable energy targets 2011-2015=== | |
− | + | In April 2015 it emerged that Shell had successfully lobbied the European Commission to 'undermine European renewable energy targets ahead of a key agreement on emissions cuts'. Documents obtained by the ''Guardian'' under freedom of information laws show that Shell began lobbying the incoming president, [[Jose Manuel Barroso]], in October 2011. The company wanted the existing formula for linking carbon-cutting goals with binding renewable energy laws scrapped and argued that 'a market-led strategy of gas expansion would save Europe €500bn (£358bn) in its transition to a low carbon energy system, compared to an approach centred on renewables'.<ref> Arthur Nelson [http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/apr/27/shell-lobbied-to-undermine-eu-renewables-targets-documents-reveal Shell lobbied to undermine EU renewables targets, documents reveal] ''Guardian'', 27 April 2015, accessed 27 April 2015.</ref> | |
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− | + | According to the EU's transparency register in 2015, Shell is the sixth biggest lobbyist in Brussels, with nine lobbyists holding European Parliament passes - allowing the owner access to anywhere in the Parliament - and spend between €4.25-4.5m a year lobbying the EU institutions.<ref> [http://ec.europa.eu/transparencyregister/public/consultation/displaylobbyist.do?id=05032108616-26&isListLobbyistView=true Shell] ''European Parliament'', accessed 27 April 2015.</ref> | |
− | + | ==History== | |
− | + | The 'Royal Dutch Company for the Exploitation of Petroleum Wells in the Netherlands East Indies' was registered in the Hague in 1890. The name was abbreviated in 1949 to Royal Dutch Petroleum Company. <ref name="shell">[http://web.archive.org/web/20010305015740/http://www1.shell.com/royal-en/content/0,5028,25448-50918,00.html Group Origins] ''Shell'', accessed 29 April 2015</ref> | |
+ | -* | ||
+ | Shell was first registered in London in 1897 by the brothers Marcus and Sam Samuel as `The "Shell" Transport and Trading Company, Ltd.' (Now PLC: public limited company). <ref name="shell"/> | ||
− | = | + | The first Royal-Dutch/Shell joint operating company: the Asiatic Petroleum Company was established in 1903 and in 1907, Royal-Dutch and Shell merged all of their operations: 60% Royal-Dutch; 40% Shell. Despite merging their interests the companies remain separate: One can buy shares in Royal-Dutch or in Shell-Transport, but not in the Group as such. <ref name="shell"/> |
− | + | In 1912, the Group founded the American Gasoline Company to sell gasoline along the Pacific Coast and Roxanna Petroleum to buy oil in Oklahoma. <ref name= "about">[www.countonshell.com/welcome/history/history.html History of Innovation] ''Shell'', accessed 29 April 2015 </ref> US operations have grown so that in 2000, 34 per-cent of earnings from exploration and production and 4 per-cent of earnings from oil product sales were generated in the USA. <ref>[Financial and Operating Information, 1996-2000, Royal-Dutch/Shell group of companies, page 10]</ref> | |
− | + | Shell's Chemical division has grown since 1928 when, Shell Development Company was established to identify chemical products which could be made from refinery by-product gases. One year later, Shell Chemical Company was chartered to manufacture these products. <ref name= "about"/> | |
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− | + | In 1972 Shell pioneered CO2 injection, as an enhanced recovery technique <ref name= "about"/>, a process it is now branding as a solution to climate change. <ref>[The Ecologist, Climate Change Report, November 2001] </ref> | |
− | + | In 1995, the Shell Learning Centre was opened 40 minutes north of Houston. As Shell puts it the training school has been conceived to encourage "out-of-the-box free thinking." <ref name= "about"/> | |
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− | + | Also in 1995 a question mark was put over Shell's real commitment to free thinking when Nigerian writer Ken Saro Wiwa and eight other Ogoni were hanged, by the Nigerian authorities "for speaking out against the environmental damage to the Niger Delta caused by Shell Oil". <ref name= "Green"/> | |
− | + | Shell had already suffered a blow earlier in 1995 when in April, Greenpeace activists occupied the Brent Spar oil platform which had come to the end of is working life and was due to be dumped at sea. <ref> [http://web.archive.org/web/20020413150427/http://www.greenpeace.org/~comms/brent/diary.html Press Releases and Diaries from the Brent Spar Occupation] ''greenpeace.org'', accessed 29 April 2015 </ref> | |
− | The ' | + | The platform contained tonnes of toxic drilling muds, plus oil residues and radioactive waste. Shell's cosy relationship with the UK Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) ensured that it got approval for the dumping - indeed the DTI refused to accept written protests from Greenpeace. Shell said it had submitted an objective view from "independent" scientists but a number of reports are alleged to have been hidden or destroyed. One of these predicted that the Spar would break up on its way down to its intended resting place 150m below the surface, dispelling its waste into the water column. <ref> [http://web.archive.org/web/20050314084454/http://www.corporatewatch.org.uk/publications/shell.html Shell -100 years is enough!] ''Corporate Watch'', accessed 29 April 2015 </ref> |
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− | Shell | ||
− | + | After a three year campaign by Greenpeace the Brent Spar was, in November 1998, broken up and incorporated into a new ferry terminal in the harbour of Mekjarvik, Norway. <ref> [www.greenpeace.org/pressreleases/oceandumping/1998nov25.html] </ref> Since this decision, European countries surrounding the North Sea have invoked a moratorium on such dumping of platforms, avoiding a dangerous precedent for the misuse of our seas. | |
− | In | + | In March of 1997, Shell, Texaco and Saudi Aramco announced, a hugely significant joint venture that would combine their Eastern and Gulf Coast United States refining and marketing businesses.<ref name= "about"/> |
− | + | From July 2000 Jeroen van der Veer replaced Maarten van den Bergh as president of Royal-Dutch <ref name="shell"/> and in 2001 Phil Watts replaced Sir Mark Moody Stuart as chairman of the board of Shell transport and Trading.<ref name="shell"/> | |
− | + | ===Shell, over a century=== | |
+ | Shell was first established in 1892 when [[Marcus Samuel]] commissioned the first oil tanker, and as a result delivered 4,000 tonnes of Russian kerosene to Bangkok and Singapore. As the oil industry was unravelling in Britain, [[Royal Dutch]] had been formed in the Netherlands to develop oil fields in Asia. By 1896, Royal Dutch was in strife competition against the British with its own tanker fleet. In 1907 the two companies joined together, rather than competing against one another, the [[Royal Dutch/ Shell Group]] of companies was established to incorporate their operations worldwide. | ||
− | In | + | Throughout the 1960’s and 1970’s Shell’s operation had become so vast that it supplied one seventh of the world’s oil products. In the 1970s Shell made a major discovery, in the form of oil and gas in the North Sea. By the end of the 1970’s people had turned to natural gas to provide their energy and by the end of the 70’s, Shell and its partners provided half of the natural gas used across Europe. During the 1980’s Shell began to sell unleaded petrol and in turn acquired a world wide leadership position in their field. With the 90’s came lower oil prices, and a concentration on Shell’s core businesses- mainly oil, gas and chemicals. As the new millennium approached, Shell looked ahead to a commitment to sustainable development throughout the Shell business.<ref> [http://www.shell.com/home/Framework?siteId=royal-en&FC2=/royal-en/html/iwgen/who_we_are/history_of_shell/zzz_lhn.html&FC3=/royal-en/html/iwgen/who_we_are/history_of_shell/history_of_shell.html] </ref> |
− | + | =Operation Shell= | |
+ | Shell operates in over 140 countries and territories, with over 109,000 employees working for them. Shell works alongside and often with industry, governments, and society to deliver what is expected of them environmentally, socially and economically. Shell is best known to the public for its petrol stations, they do however operate in a number of different areas, such as: exploring and developing oil and gas on land and at sea; transporting and trading oil and gas; producing and selling oil for ships and planes; generating electricity; and providing energy efficiency advice. <ref>[http://www.shell.com/home/Framework?siteId=royal-en&FC2=/royal-en/html/iwgen/who_we_are/the_shell_group/zzz_lhn.html&FC3=/royal-en/html/iwgen/who_we_are/the_shell_group/the_shell_group.html] </ref> | ||
− | + | ==Market share/importance== | |
− | The | + | The oil sector accounts for about 13.3 per cent of FTSE 100 <ref> [http://web.archive.org/web/20070807082657/http://www.business-line.com/business-weekly/archives/233/investor.html Investor’s Corner] ''The Malta Business Weekly'', accessed 29 April 2015 </ref> in the UK Royal-Dutch/Shell is one of the largest players in this sector. As such, it is one of the barometer companies of the British economy. Shell's successes and failures are likely to be mirrored in the UK economy as a whole. |
− | + | * Shell's Crude oil production in 2000 stood at 2,274 thousand barrels per-day <ref name= "results"> [www.shell.com/investordata/downloads/134/q42000pdf3.pdf Results 2000] ''Shell'', accessed 29 April 2015</ref> | |
+ | * Shell's Natural gas production available for sale at 8,212 million standard-cubic-feet per-day. <ref name= "results"/> | ||
+ | * Shell's oil product sales at 5,574 thousand barrels per-day. <ref name= "results"/> | ||
− | + | For comparison: | |
− | + | * BP's crude oil production in 2000 stood at 1,928 thousand barrels per-day, <ref name="BP">[http://web.archive.org/web/20030324182242/http://www.bp.com/downloads/457/BP_RA_Complete.pdf Annual reports and accounts 2000] ''BP'', accessed 29 April 2015 </ref> | |
+ | * Gas production at 7,609 million cubic-feet per-day, <ref name="BP"/> | ||
+ | * Marketing sales at 3,756 thousand barrels per-day, <ref name= "BP"/> | ||
+ | * Exxon-Mobil's liquids production in 2000 stood at 2,600 thousand barrels per-day <ref name="Mobil"> [Summary annual report, 2000] ''Exxon Mobil'', accessed 29 April 2015 </ref> | ||
+ | * Exxon-Mobil's natural gas production available for sale at 10,300 million cubic-feet per-day <ref name="Mobil"/> | ||
+ | * Exxon-Mobil's petroleum product sales at 8,000 thousand barrels per-day <ref name="Mobil"/> | ||
− | + | For a guide to the units used by the oil and gas industry try: www.nepo.go.th/ref/UNIT-OIL.html | |
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− | = | + | ====Structure==== |
− | + | Operating subsidiaries are divided into the following divisions: | |
+ | * Exploration & Production | ||
+ | * Oil products | ||
+ | * Chemicals | ||
+ | * Gas & Power | ||
+ | (Other small divisions include Coal, Hydrogen, Forestry and Renewables) | ||
===The Executive Group=== | ===The Executive Group=== | ||
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*[[Jeroen van der Veer]], Chief Executive | *[[Jeroen van der Veer]], Chief Executive | ||
*[[Rob Routs]], Executive Director Downstream (oil products and chemicals) | *[[Rob Routs]], Executive Director Downstream (oil products and chemicals) | ||
Line 77: | Line 84: | ||
*[[Malcolm Brinded]], Executive Director Exploration and Production | *[[Malcolm Brinded]], Executive Director Exploration and Production | ||
*[[Linda Cook]], Executive Director Gas and Power | *[[Linda Cook]], Executive Director Gas and Power | ||
− | * [[Mark Hanafin]] who previously served Shell in a variety of roles including acting as a CEO, is now Managing Director with [[Centrica]] Energy and Europe. Prior to his time with Shell, Hanafin worked with the [[General Electric Company]]<ref> | + | * [[Mark Hanafin]] who previously served Shell in a variety of roles including acting as a CEO, is now Managing Director with [[Centrica]] Energy and Europe. Prior to his time with Shell, Hanafin worked with the [[General Electric Company]]<ref>[http://www.centrica.co.uk/index.asp?pageid=49 Management] ''Centrica'', accessed 26th August 2008</ref> |
==Shell Business Principles== | ==Shell Business Principles== | ||
Line 92: | Line 99: | ||
*Principle six, Local Communities: Shell companies aim to be good neighbours by improving the way in which they contribute either directly or indirectly to the well being of the communities of which they work. | *Principle six, Local Communities: Shell companies aim to be good neighbours by improving the way in which they contribute either directly or indirectly to the well being of the communities of which they work. | ||
*Principle seven, Communication and Engagement: Shell companies realise that communication and engagement with their shareholders is essential. | *Principle seven, Communication and Engagement: Shell companies realise that communication and engagement with their shareholders is essential. | ||
− | *Principle eight, Compliance: Shell state that they comply with all laws and regulations of the countries in which they operate | + | *Principle eight, Compliance: Shell state that they comply with all laws and regulations of the countries in which they operate <ref> [http://www.shell.com/home/Framework?siteId=royal-en&FC2=/royal-en/html/iwgen/environment_and_society/commitment_policies_standards/business_principles/zzz_lhn.html&FC3=/royal-en/html/iwgen/environment_and_society/commitment_policies_standards/business_principles/business_principles.html] </ref> |
− | =Shell,a lack of Corporate Social Responsibility?= | + | ==Shell, a lack of Corporate Social Responsibility?== |
− | Shell stands accused of failing to adhere to [[CSR]] and as a result fuels the debate on Corporate Social Responsibility (see: [[Corporate Social Responsibility the current debate]] for more information) through its pollution of communities, its practices which damage wildlife habitats and its failure | + | Shell stands accused of failing to adhere to [[CSR]] and as a result fuels the debate on Corporate Social Responsibility (see: [[Corporate Social Responsibility the current debate]] for more information) through its pollution of communities, its practices which damage wildlife habitats and its failure to live up to its promise of environmental and social responsibility as outlined in its business principles. Several different case studies will be presented to emphasise these facts, firstly an examination of the operation of Shell in Nigeria. |
==Nigeria== | ==Nigeria== | ||
Line 102: | Line 109: | ||
[[Oronto Douglas]] of [[Friends of the Earth]] Nigeria claims "Shell's business practices in the Niger Delta have destroyed our environment, our farmland and our fisheries. Oil spills are not cleaned up and gas flares dominate the sky line. The people in Nigeria are not benefiting from Shell's presence in our country - we are paying the price. Shell must work with local communities to clean up the Niger Delta and make sure communities receive the benefits of their operations there". | [[Oronto Douglas]] of [[Friends of the Earth]] Nigeria claims "Shell's business practices in the Niger Delta have destroyed our environment, our farmland and our fisheries. Oil spills are not cleaned up and gas flares dominate the sky line. The people in Nigeria are not benefiting from Shell's presence in our country - we are paying the price. Shell must work with local communities to clean up the Niger Delta and make sure communities receive the benefits of their operations there". | ||
− | + | <ref>[ http://web.archive.org/web/20130904002551/http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/press_releases/call_on_uk_government_to_s_14102004.html Call on UK Government to Stop Funding Oil Destruction] ''Friends of the Earth'', accessed 29 April 2015 </ref> | |
− | In Nigeria, Shell works in a coalition with the Nigerian government. In 1995 nine activists who spoke out against the exploitation carried out by Shell were executed by the Nigerian government, as a result outrage exploded across the globe. The conviction of the men was part of a joint effort by the government and Shell to hamper the growing movement of the Ogoni people- a movement for environmental justice, economic justice and the acknowledgment of their human rights. Oil from Ogoniland has contributed to $30billion to the economy of Nigeria, yet nothing has been put back into the local community, “Ogoni villages have no clean water, little electricity, few telephones, abysmal health care, and no jobs for displaced farmers and fisher persons, and adding insult to injury, face the effects of unrestrained environmental molestation by Shell everyday” (Boycott Shell, Essential Action). [http://www.essentialaction.org/shell/] Shell began drilling in Ogoniland in 1958, at that point establishing pipes across the farmland and covering the land with oil from the leaks in the pipes. This assault on the environment has killed masses of local fish, smothered the land and introduced devastating acid rain to the area. The Ogoni people’s livelihood was based on the use of the land for crops and fish for food, no longer could this be done as it led to devastating health consequences. | + | In Nigeria, Shell works in a coalition with the Nigerian government. In 1995 nine activists who spoke out against the exploitation carried out by Shell were executed by the Nigerian government, as a result outrage exploded across the globe. The conviction of the men was part of a joint effort by the government and Shell to hamper the growing movement of the Ogoni people- a movement for environmental justice, economic justice and the acknowledgment of their human rights. Oil from Ogoniland has contributed to $30billion to the economy of Nigeria, yet nothing has been put back into the local community, “Ogoni villages have no clean water, little electricity, few telephones, abysmal health care, and no jobs for displaced farmers and fisher persons, and adding insult to injury, face the effects of unrestrained environmental molestation by Shell everyday” (Boycott Shell, Essential Action). <ref> [http://web.archive.org/web/20140816064608/http://www.essentialaction.org/shell/ Boycott Shell] ''Shell'', accessed 29 April 2015 </ref> Shell began drilling in Ogoniland in 1958, at that point establishing pipes across the farmland and covering the land with oil from the leaks in the pipes. This assault on the environment has killed masses of local fish, smothered the land and introduced devastating acid rain to the area. The Ogoni people’s livelihood was based on the use of the land for crops and fish for food, no longer could this be done as it led to devastating health consequences. |
[[Ken Saro-Wiwa]] and the [[Ogoni8]] were all leaders of [[MOSOP]], the Movement of Survival for the Ogoni People, who claimed that Shell was not welcome in Ogoniland. On the 10th of November 1995, all nine were hanged after being found guilty of the murder of four other Ogoni activists, even though none of the nine were present in Ogoniland on the day of the murders. Two witnesses against the MOSOP leaders later admitted that they had been bribed by both Shell and the Nigerian military to testify against Ken Saro-Wiwa. All across the Niger Delta, indigenous groups are being displaced, forced to suffer the same environmental devastation and oppression under Shell and the Nigerian military. | [[Ken Saro-Wiwa]] and the [[Ogoni8]] were all leaders of [[MOSOP]], the Movement of Survival for the Ogoni People, who claimed that Shell was not welcome in Ogoniland. On the 10th of November 1995, all nine were hanged after being found guilty of the murder of four other Ogoni activists, even though none of the nine were present in Ogoniland on the day of the murders. Two witnesses against the MOSOP leaders later admitted that they had been bribed by both Shell and the Nigerian military to testify against Ken Saro-Wiwa. All across the Niger Delta, indigenous groups are being displaced, forced to suffer the same environmental devastation and oppression under Shell and the Nigerian military. | ||
− | [http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/press_releases/behind_the_shine_the_real_22062004.html] | + | [http://web.archive.org/web/20130904001005/http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/press_releases/behind_the_shine_the_real_22062004.html Behind the Shine - the Real Impacts of Shell's Work Around the World] ''Friends of the Earth'', 23 June 2004, accessed 29 April 2015 </ref> |
Ever since the discovery of oil in Nigeria in the 1950s the country has been suffering devastating environmental damages as a result of oil spills, gas flaring and deforestation. The Nigerian Federal Government has attributed to these problems by failing to enforce environmental laws and regulations. There have been over 4,000 oil spills in the Niger Delta since 1960, and gas flaring from oil extraction has resulted in serious air pollution problems in the area. The Nigerian federal government has indicated that it is no longer willing to tolerate oil companies absolving themselves of their responsibility to reduce pollution. | Ever since the discovery of oil in Nigeria in the 1950s the country has been suffering devastating environmental damages as a result of oil spills, gas flaring and deforestation. The Nigerian Federal Government has attributed to these problems by failing to enforce environmental laws and regulations. There have been over 4,000 oil spills in the Niger Delta since 1960, and gas flaring from oil extraction has resulted in serious air pollution problems in the area. The Nigerian federal government has indicated that it is no longer willing to tolerate oil companies absolving themselves of their responsibility to reduce pollution. | ||
− | [http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/nigenv.html] | + | <ref> [http://web.archive.org/web/20070417004033/http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/nigenv.html Nigeria: Environmental Issues] ''eia'', accessed 29 April 2015 </ref> |
In 1996 Shell launched a PR campaign to clean up their image in the western world, to reassure customers and business partners of their actions. Shell reinstated itself as a company with human rights, social responsibility and sustainable development at the heart of all of its operations. However, after having stated this, the infrastructure of pipelines still criss-cross over the Niger Delta, leaks and oil spills are still common place. | In 1996 Shell launched a PR campaign to clean up their image in the western world, to reassure customers and business partners of their actions. Shell reinstated itself as a company with human rights, social responsibility and sustainable development at the heart of all of its operations. However, after having stated this, the infrastructure of pipelines still criss-cross over the Niger Delta, leaks and oil spills are still common place. | ||
===$15.5m Out of Court Settlement=== | ===$15.5m Out of Court Settlement=== | ||
− | In 2009, Shell settled out of court on the allegations that Shell was complicit in murder, torture and other abuses by Nigeria's former military government against campaigners in the Niger Delta. It is alleged that Shell officials helped to supply Nigerian police with weapons during the 1990s, that Shell participated in security sweeps in parts of Ogoniland and hired government troops that shot at villagers who protested against a pipeline and that Shell helped the government capture and hang Ken Saro-Wiwa and several of his colleagues<ref> | + | In 2009, Shell settled out of court on the allegations that Shell was complicit in murder, torture and other abuses by Nigeria's former military government against campaigners in the Niger Delta. It is alleged that Shell officials helped to supply Nigerian police with weapons during the 1990s, that Shell participated in security sweeps in parts of Ogoniland and hired government troops that shot at villagers who protested against a pipeline and that Shell helped the government capture and hang Ken Saro-Wiwa and several of his colleagues <ref> [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8090493.stm Shell settles Nigeria deaths case] ''BBC News'', 9 June 2009, accessed 17 July 2009 </ref>. The case was initiated 13 years ago by relatives of nine anti-oil campaigners, including author Ken Saro-Wiwa, who were hanged in 1995 by Nigeria's then military rulers. The case was due to be heard in the U.S. courts the week following the settlement offer of $15.5m (£9.7m). |
− | Shell deny the allegations, claiming that the settlement is simply a matter of 'reconciliation' but as the ''Guardian'' reports the plaintifs 'had assembled a formidable case' against Shell<ref> | + | Shell deny the allegations, claiming that the settlement is simply a matter of 'reconciliation' but as the ''Guardian'' reports the plaintifs 'had assembled a formidable case' against Shell. <ref name= "Ogoni">[http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/cif-green/2009/jun/09/saro-wiwa-shell Shell settlement with Ogoni people stops short of full justice] ''The Guardian'', 10 June 2009, accessed 17 July 2009 </ref>13 years is a long time to be fighting for justice through the courts and if Shell had been found guilty as charged they still had the option of appeal which would result in the case being dragged out without resolution for many more years to come. |
As Vidal in the ''Guardian'' argues, settling out of court suggests 'that Shell wants to bury the facts about what was happening on the Niger delta in the 1970s and 1980s when it was extracting tens of millions of barrels of oil a year from Ogoniland while allowing the people to slide into destitution as it was destroying their environment. The settlement stops the world knowing exactly what was the company's relationship with the national government and the military, and the extent of Shell's involvement in the human rights abuses that led to Ken Saro-Wiwa's execution'. It could indeed have been intensely embarrassing for the company if it all had come out, and as environmental abuses continue and the security situation for people of the region has got far worse that before, shining a light on the details of Shell's involvement could be described as a potential PR disaster waiting to happen. Vital reports that oil companies provide the Nigerian state with 90% of their foreign earnings and anyone who stands up for environmental justice or who challenges the oil companies is now in mortal danger. | As Vidal in the ''Guardian'' argues, settling out of court suggests 'that Shell wants to bury the facts about what was happening on the Niger delta in the 1970s and 1980s when it was extracting tens of millions of barrels of oil a year from Ogoniland while allowing the people to slide into destitution as it was destroying their environment. The settlement stops the world knowing exactly what was the company's relationship with the national government and the military, and the extent of Shell's involvement in the human rights abuses that led to Ken Saro-Wiwa's execution'. It could indeed have been intensely embarrassing for the company if it all had come out, and as environmental abuses continue and the security situation for people of the region has got far worse that before, shining a light on the details of Shell's involvement could be described as a potential PR disaster waiting to happen. Vital reports that oil companies provide the Nigerian state with 90% of their foreign earnings and anyone who stands up for environmental justice or who challenges the oil companies is now in mortal danger. | ||
Vital argues that the settlement falls short of justice, that the sum of $15.5m (£9.6m) may be peanuts for the company and can do little to compensate the 500,000 Ogoni people for generations of devastating pollution, human rights abuses and persecution. However he does go on to describe how Shell's decision to settle out of court could backfire. As he states: | Vital argues that the settlement falls short of justice, that the sum of $15.5m (£9.6m) may be peanuts for the company and can do little to compensate the 500,000 Ogoni people for generations of devastating pollution, human rights abuses and persecution. However he does go on to describe how Shell's decision to settle out of court could backfire. As he states: | ||
− | :'The precedent of a Nigerian community suing a multinational oil company in a western court has been set. There are thousands more Ogoni who will now want to bring their case to the west to see justice done, as well as other Niger Delta tribes like the Ijaw, the Igbo, the Ibibio and the Itsekiri who also want justice. There have been more than 500 pollution cases against Shell in Nigeria, but few reach court and the company has been able to use the appeal system to delay those that do for many years. Now the lesson is that justice and reparation can be obtained abroad. A Dutch court will soon hear a case brought against Shell by other Niger Delta villagers following a major oil spill years ago. Meanwhile, in Ecuador, [[Chevron]] is about to hear its fate in a massive pollution case that has been going on for nearly 10 years. It's quite possible the company will be fined more than $4bn.'<ref | + | :'The precedent of a Nigerian community suing a multinational oil company in a western court has been set. There are thousands more Ogoni who will now want to bring their case to the west to see justice done, as well as other Niger Delta tribes like the Ijaw, the Igbo, the Ibibio and the Itsekiri who also want justice. There have been more than 500 pollution cases against Shell in Nigeria, but few reach court and the company has been able to use the appeal system to delay those that do for many years. Now the lesson is that justice and reparation can be obtained abroad. A Dutch court will soon hear a case brought against Shell by other Niger Delta villagers following a major oil spill years ago. Meanwhile, in Ecuador, [[Chevron]] is about to hear its fate in a massive pollution case that has been going on for nearly 10 years. It's quite possible the company will be fined more than $4bn.' <ref name= "Ogoni"/> |
==South Africa== | ==South Africa== | ||
− | In South Africa, the largest oil refinery is a joint venture between Shell and [[BP]], called the [[South African Petroleum Refinery]] (SAPREF). Locals have claimed that explosions, fires and leaks from the pipelines are a regular occurrence in the vicinity of the refinery. Many oil leaks have taken place in the past few years, contaminating Durban Harbour and protected wetlands, and settling under the homes of locals, causing severe illness. Shell is attempting to address issues raised against it, by stating that it operates (voluntarily) under the guidelines of the [[Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development]], as well as policies established by the [[European Union]] in its management and operation of the SAPREF refinery. | + | In South Africa, the largest oil refinery is a joint venture between Shell and [[BP]], called the [[South African Petroleum Refinery]] (SAPREF). Locals have claimed that explosions, fires and leaks from the pipelines are a regular occurrence in the vicinity of the refinery. Many oil leaks have taken place in the past few years, contaminating Durban Harbour and protected wetlands, and settling under the homes of locals, causing severe illness. Shell is attempting to address issues raised against it, by stating that it operates (voluntarily) under the guidelines of the [[Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development]], as well as policies established by the [[European Union]] in its management and operation of the SAPREF refinery. (Lessons Not learned: The Other Shell Report). <ref>[http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/reports/lessons_not_learned.pdf (Lessons Not learned: The Other Shell Report)]</ref> |
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==Brazil== | ==Brazil== | ||
− | In Brazil, in January 2005 Shell was forced to comply to government orders requiring Shell to: abstain from its practices of dumping and burying toxic waste; remediate contaminated area; monitor the water in artesian wells for toxic chemicals and heavy metals; implement effective measures to remove high concentrations of harmful substances detected in the wells; and also to protect the health of their workers both previous and current. In Brazil instead of cleaning up the contamination Shell has been “evading responsibility for years”. (Lessons Not learned: The Other Shell Report). [http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/reports/lessons_not_learned.pdf] | + | In Brazil, in January 2005 Shell was forced to comply to government orders requiring Shell to: abstain from its practices of dumping and burying toxic waste; remediate contaminated area; monitor the water in artesian wells for toxic chemicals and heavy metals; implement effective measures to remove high concentrations of harmful substances detected in the wells; and also to protect the health of their workers both previous and current. In Brazil instead of cleaning up the contamination Shell has been “evading responsibility for years”. (Lessons Not learned: The Other Shell Report). <ref>[http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/reports/lessons_not_learned.pdf (Lessons Not learned: The Other Shell Report)]</ref> |
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==USA== | ==USA== | ||
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“We see a side of Shell that its board of directors and managers try to hide from the public. The Shell we know recklessly operates an oil refinery across the street from our homes. Every day Shell dumps toxic pollution on our neighbourhood that is damaging our health, especially that of our children who can’t breathe without an inhaler.” | “We see a side of Shell that its board of directors and managers try to hide from the public. The Shell we know recklessly operates an oil refinery across the street from our homes. Every day Shell dumps toxic pollution on our neighbourhood that is damaging our health, especially that of our children who can’t breathe without an inhaler.” | ||
− | -Hilton Kelley, Director of Community In-power Development Association (Lessons Not learned: The Other Shell Report). [http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/reports/lessons_not_learned.pdf] | + | -Hilton Kelley, Director of Community In-power Development Association (Lessons Not learned: The Other Shell Report). <ref>[http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/reports/lessons_not_learned.pdf (Lessons Not learned: The Other Shell Report)]</ref> |
===Texas=== | ===Texas=== | ||
− | Shell operates a huge oil refinery called [[Motiva]] in West Port Arthur, Texas. An independent survey conducted by the University of Texas at Galveston Medical Branch in 2002 found that 80% of the residents of West Port Arthur surveyed, suffered from heart conditions and respiratory problems, compared to 30% of people who do not live in the vicinity of a refinery (Lessons Not learned: The Other Shell Report). | + | Shell operates a huge oil refinery called [[Motiva]] in West Port Arthur, Texas. An independent survey conducted by the University of Texas at Galveston Medical Branch in 2002 found that 80% of the residents of West Port Arthur surveyed, suffered from heart conditions and respiratory problems, compared to 30% of people who do not live in the vicinity of a refinery (Lessons Not learned: The Other Shell Report). <ref>[http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/reports/lessons_not_learned.pdf (Lessons Not learned: The Other Shell Report)]</ref>>Motiva takes advantage of huge exemptions in the US environmental regulations, which allow the refinery to exceed pollution limits in a time of malfunction. In 2003 the Motiva refinery polluted the air with 233,559 kg (514,910 pounds) of toxins as a result of malfunctions. |
− | [http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/reports/lessons_not_learned.pdf] Motiva takes advantage of huge exemptions in the US environmental regulations, which allow the refinery to exceed pollution limits in a time of malfunction. In 2003 the Motiva refinery polluted the air with 233,559 kg (514,910 pounds) of toxins as a result of malfunctions. | ||
===Louisiana=== | ===Louisiana=== | ||
− | The town of Norco in Louisiana is home to a large Shell refinery and a Shell chemical facility. The Norco neighbourhood of Diamond is situated in the middle of the two Shell facilities. The [[CCN]] (Concerned Citizens of Norco) was established to lobby Shell, and finally in 2002 Shell agreed to meet the demands of the local community for a fair and just relocation and a reduction on the pollution of its own facilities. One downfall facing the CNN is that “Shell has not acknowledged any of the potential health impacts of its operations” (Lessons Not learned: The Other Shell Report). [http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/reports/lessons_not_learned.pdf] | + | The town of Norco in Louisiana is home to a large Shell refinery and a Shell chemical facility. The Norco neighbourhood of Diamond is situated in the middle of the two Shell facilities. The [[CCN]] (Concerned Citizens of Norco) was established to lobby Shell, and finally in 2002 Shell agreed to meet the demands of the local community for a fair and just relocation and a reduction on the pollution of its own facilities. One downfall facing the CNN is that “Shell has not acknowledged any of the potential health impacts of its operations” (Lessons Not learned: The Other Shell Report). <ref>[http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/reports/lessons_not_learned.pdf (Lessons Not learned: The Other Shell Report)]</ref> |
+ | |||
+ | What all of these communities across the globe have in common, is that they have been used by Shell as the “dumping grounds for oil refining, chemical manufacturing, oil and gas drilling, and storage of oil products”. <ref> [http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/reports/lessons_not_learned.pdf (Lessons Not learned: The Other Shell Report)] </ref>This blatant lack of respect for communities(both for the people and the environment of such communities) has caused Shell to be attacked by many lobbyists. The remainder of this report shall be presented in [[Shell vs Human Rights and Environmental Lobbyists]]. | ||
+ | ==Meetings with ministers== | ||
+ | According to the ''Guardian'', between 2010 and 2014 Shell had at least 112 meetings with ministers and its rival [[BP]] had at least 79 . The newspaper found that during this period there were at least 230 meetings with fossil fuel companies Shell, [[BP]], [[ExxonMobil]], [[Total]], [[ConocoPhillips]], [[Chevron]] and trade organisation [[Oil & Gas UK]]. This figure is a significantly higher number than meetings with renewable energy companies and their campaign groups - with [[Greenpeace]] and [[Friends of the Earth]] having just 67 meetings between them.<ref> Rob Evans, Helena Bengtsson, Damian Carrington and Emma Howard [http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/apr/28/fossil-fuel-lobby-given-far-more-access-to-uk-ministers-than-renewables-analysis?CMP=share_btn_tw Shell and BP alone eclipse renewable energy sector on access to ministers] ''Guardian'', 28 April 2015, accessed 29 April 2015.</ref> | ||
− | + | ==PR and Lobbying firms== | |
− | [http://www. | + | ===UK=== |
+ | *[[Edelman]]<ref> [http://www.appc.org.uk/members/register/register-profile/?company=Edelman Register 1st September 2014 - 30th November 2014] ''APPC'', accessed 29 January 2015 </ref> | ||
+ | *[[Fishburn Hedges]]<ref> [http://www.appc.org.uk/members/register/register-profile/?company=Fishburn Register 1st September 2014 - 30th November 2014] and to February 2015 ''APPC'', accessed 28 January 2015 </ref> | ||
+ | *[[Hill and Knowlton]], since June 2014<ref> [http://www.appc.org.uk/members/register/register-profile/?company=HKStrategies Register 1st September 2014 - 30th November 2014] ''APPC'', accessed 29 January 2015 </ref> | ||
+ | *[[MHP Communications]] in 2014<ref> [http://www.appc.org.uk/members/register/register-profile/?company=MHP%20Communications Register 1st September 2014 - 30th November 2014] ''APPC'', accessed 23 February 2015 </ref> | ||
+ | *[[Hanover]] | ||
+ | *[[Weber Shandwick Public Affairs]] | ||
+ | *[[Lexington Communications]], until August 2013<ref> [http://www.appc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Register-August-2014-FINAL11.pdf Register for 1st June 2013 - 31st August 2013] ''APPC'', accessed 8 April 2015 </ref> | ||
+ | ===Europe and US=== | ||
+ | *Deutsche Shell is listed as a client of [[FischerAppelt Kommunikation]] <ref> [http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=http://www.fischerappelt.de/&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=1&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3DfischerAppelt%2BKommunikation%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26channel%3Ds%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-GB:official%26hs%3Dgve%26sa%3DG Current & former clients] ''FischerAppelt Kommunikation'', accessed 14th February 2008 </ref> | ||
+ | *In 2008, Shell is listed as a member of the [[American Benefits Council]] <ref>[http://www.americanbenefitscouncil.org/about/memberlist.cfm Memberships] ''American Benefits Council'', accessed 26th February 2008 </ref> | ||
− | == | + | ==Affiliations== |
− | + | {{Template:Fracking badge}} | |
− | + | *'''Shell UK Limited''' has been a donor to the [[Science Media Centre]] from 2005-2011 according to the SMC. <ref>Data from Internet Archive holdings of the Science Media Centre website, 2002-2013. | |
+ | *Nov 2005 http://web.archive.org/web/20051227000834/http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/funding.htm | ||
+ | *Apr 2006 http://web.archive.org/web/20060910221525/http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/funding.htm | ||
+ | *Feb 2007 http://web.archive.org/web/20070829210611/http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/funding.htm | ||
+ | *Jul 2008 http://web.archive.org/web/20081202143334/http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/pages/about/funding.htm | ||
+ | *May 2009 http://web.archive.org/web/20090830202526/http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/pages/about/funding.htm | ||
+ | *May 2010 http://web.archive.org/web/20100822091312/http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/pages/about/funding.htm | ||
+ | *Jun 2011 http://web.archive.org/web/20110807075127/http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/pages/about/funding.htm | ||
+ | </ref> | ||
+ | *Associated member of the [[All Party Parliamentary Group on Unconventional Oil and Gas]] (which is run by lobbying and PR firm [[Hill and Knowlton]]). Paid £2500 in membership fees.<ref>[http://www.appgunconventionaloilandgas.com/about-the-appg/associate-members/ Associate members list], www.appgunconventionaloilandgas.com, accessed 22 October 2015</ref> | ||
==Resources== | ==Resources== | ||
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* [[Shell Wind]] | * [[Shell Wind]] | ||
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− | [[Category: Oil Industry]] [[Category: Transnational Corporations]] | + | [[Category: Oil Industry]] [[Category: Transnational Corporations]][[Category: Fracking]][[Category:Science Media Centre]] |
Latest revision as of 14:44, 27 January 2017
The Royal-Dutch/Shell groups of companies is an Anglo-Dutch group, the holding companies who own the group being The Shell Transport and Trading Company PLC (UK) and Koninklijke Nederland (Royal Dutch Petroleum Company: Netherlands). These two holding companies own 40 per cent and 60 per cent respectively of the following three subsidiaries, which are themselves holding companies for further operating subsidiaries:
- Shell Petroleum NV (Netherlands)
- Shell Petroleum Company LTD (UK)
- Shell Petroleum Inc. (USA)
The three companies and their operating subsidiaries are managed worldwide by Shell International.
Contents
- 1 Re-positioning as a green oil giant
- 2 History
- 3 Operation Shell
Re-positioning as a green oil giant
Over time Shell has successfully come to be seen as one of the more progressive companies within its sector. Since it withdrew from the Global Climate Coalition (lobby group) in 1998 [1] Shell has tried hard to brand itself as a caring, green company. Even before that, a concerted public relations campaign had followed the execution (in November 1995) of Nigerian writer and campaigner Ken Saro Wiwa. [2] Shell painstakingly portrays itself as a good corporate citizen, but like all multinationals and all oil companies Royal-Dutch/Shell continues, behind the greenwash, with many of its old ways.
EU lobbying against renewable energy targets 2011-2015
In April 2015 it emerged that Shell had successfully lobbied the European Commission to 'undermine European renewable energy targets ahead of a key agreement on emissions cuts'. Documents obtained by the Guardian under freedom of information laws show that Shell began lobbying the incoming president, Jose Manuel Barroso, in October 2011. The company wanted the existing formula for linking carbon-cutting goals with binding renewable energy laws scrapped and argued that 'a market-led strategy of gas expansion would save Europe €500bn (£358bn) in its transition to a low carbon energy system, compared to an approach centred on renewables'.[3]
According to the EU's transparency register in 2015, Shell is the sixth biggest lobbyist in Brussels, with nine lobbyists holding European Parliament passes - allowing the owner access to anywhere in the Parliament - and spend between €4.25-4.5m a year lobbying the EU institutions.[4]
History
The 'Royal Dutch Company for the Exploitation of Petroleum Wells in the Netherlands East Indies' was registered in the Hague in 1890. The name was abbreviated in 1949 to Royal Dutch Petroleum Company. [5] -* Shell was first registered in London in 1897 by the brothers Marcus and Sam Samuel as `The "Shell" Transport and Trading Company, Ltd.' (Now PLC: public limited company). [5]
The first Royal-Dutch/Shell joint operating company: the Asiatic Petroleum Company was established in 1903 and in 1907, Royal-Dutch and Shell merged all of their operations: 60% Royal-Dutch; 40% Shell. Despite merging their interests the companies remain separate: One can buy shares in Royal-Dutch or in Shell-Transport, but not in the Group as such. [5]
In 1912, the Group founded the American Gasoline Company to sell gasoline along the Pacific Coast and Roxanna Petroleum to buy oil in Oklahoma. [6] US operations have grown so that in 2000, 34 per-cent of earnings from exploration and production and 4 per-cent of earnings from oil product sales were generated in the USA. [7]
Shell's Chemical division has grown since 1928 when, Shell Development Company was established to identify chemical products which could be made from refinery by-product gases. One year later, Shell Chemical Company was chartered to manufacture these products. [6]
In 1972 Shell pioneered CO2 injection, as an enhanced recovery technique [6], a process it is now branding as a solution to climate change. [8]
In 1995, the Shell Learning Centre was opened 40 minutes north of Houston. As Shell puts it the training school has been conceived to encourage "out-of-the-box free thinking." [6]
Also in 1995 a question mark was put over Shell's real commitment to free thinking when Nigerian writer Ken Saro Wiwa and eight other Ogoni were hanged, by the Nigerian authorities "for speaking out against the environmental damage to the Niger Delta caused by Shell Oil". [2]
Shell had already suffered a blow earlier in 1995 when in April, Greenpeace activists occupied the Brent Spar oil platform which had come to the end of is working life and was due to be dumped at sea. [9]
The platform contained tonnes of toxic drilling muds, plus oil residues and radioactive waste. Shell's cosy relationship with the UK Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) ensured that it got approval for the dumping - indeed the DTI refused to accept written protests from Greenpeace. Shell said it had submitted an objective view from "independent" scientists but a number of reports are alleged to have been hidden or destroyed. One of these predicted that the Spar would break up on its way down to its intended resting place 150m below the surface, dispelling its waste into the water column. [10]
After a three year campaign by Greenpeace the Brent Spar was, in November 1998, broken up and incorporated into a new ferry terminal in the harbour of Mekjarvik, Norway. [11] Since this decision, European countries surrounding the North Sea have invoked a moratorium on such dumping of platforms, avoiding a dangerous precedent for the misuse of our seas.
In March of 1997, Shell, Texaco and Saudi Aramco announced, a hugely significant joint venture that would combine their Eastern and Gulf Coast United States refining and marketing businesses.[6]
From July 2000 Jeroen van der Veer replaced Maarten van den Bergh as president of Royal-Dutch [5] and in 2001 Phil Watts replaced Sir Mark Moody Stuart as chairman of the board of Shell transport and Trading.[5]
Shell, over a century
Shell was first established in 1892 when Marcus Samuel commissioned the first oil tanker, and as a result delivered 4,000 tonnes of Russian kerosene to Bangkok and Singapore. As the oil industry was unravelling in Britain, Royal Dutch had been formed in the Netherlands to develop oil fields in Asia. By 1896, Royal Dutch was in strife competition against the British with its own tanker fleet. In 1907 the two companies joined together, rather than competing against one another, the Royal Dutch/ Shell Group of companies was established to incorporate their operations worldwide.
Throughout the 1960’s and 1970’s Shell’s operation had become so vast that it supplied one seventh of the world’s oil products. In the 1970s Shell made a major discovery, in the form of oil and gas in the North Sea. By the end of the 1970’s people had turned to natural gas to provide their energy and by the end of the 70’s, Shell and its partners provided half of the natural gas used across Europe. During the 1980’s Shell began to sell unleaded petrol and in turn acquired a world wide leadership position in their field. With the 90’s came lower oil prices, and a concentration on Shell’s core businesses- mainly oil, gas and chemicals. As the new millennium approached, Shell looked ahead to a commitment to sustainable development throughout the Shell business.[12]
Operation Shell
Shell operates in over 140 countries and territories, with over 109,000 employees working for them. Shell works alongside and often with industry, governments, and society to deliver what is expected of them environmentally, socially and economically. Shell is best known to the public for its petrol stations, they do however operate in a number of different areas, such as: exploring and developing oil and gas on land and at sea; transporting and trading oil and gas; producing and selling oil for ships and planes; generating electricity; and providing energy efficiency advice. [13]
The oil sector accounts for about 13.3 per cent of FTSE 100 [14] in the UK Royal-Dutch/Shell is one of the largest players in this sector. As such, it is one of the barometer companies of the British economy. Shell's successes and failures are likely to be mirrored in the UK economy as a whole.
- Shell's Crude oil production in 2000 stood at 2,274 thousand barrels per-day [15]
- Shell's Natural gas production available for sale at 8,212 million standard-cubic-feet per-day. [15]
- Shell's oil product sales at 5,574 thousand barrels per-day. [15]
For comparison:
- BP's crude oil production in 2000 stood at 1,928 thousand barrels per-day, [16]
- Gas production at 7,609 million cubic-feet per-day, [16]
- Marketing sales at 3,756 thousand barrels per-day, [16]
- Exxon-Mobil's liquids production in 2000 stood at 2,600 thousand barrels per-day [17]
- Exxon-Mobil's natural gas production available for sale at 10,300 million cubic-feet per-day [17]
- Exxon-Mobil's petroleum product sales at 8,000 thousand barrels per-day [17]
For a guide to the units used by the oil and gas industry try: www.nepo.go.th/ref/UNIT-OIL.html
Structure
Operating subsidiaries are divided into the following divisions:
- Exploration & Production
- Oil products
- Chemicals
- Gas & Power
(Other small divisions include Coal, Hydrogen, Forestry and Renewables)
The Executive Group
- Jeroen van der Veer, Chief Executive
- Rob Routs, Executive Director Downstream (oil products and chemicals)
- Peter Voser, Chief Financial Officer
- Malcolm Brinded, Executive Director Exploration and Production
- Linda Cook, Executive Director Gas and Power
- Mark Hanafin who previously served Shell in a variety of roles including acting as a CEO, is now Managing Director with Centrica Energy and Europe. Prior to his time with Shell, Hanafin worked with the General Electric Company[18]
Shell Business Principles
The Shell business principles govern how each Shell company which makes up the Shell Group conducts its affairs. The objectives of Shell are to engage efficiently, responsibly and profitably in oil, gas and chemicals. Shell aims to work closely with its customers, partners and policy-makers to advance more efficient and sustainable use of energy and natural resources.
Shell employees share a set of core values, these being honesty, integrity and respect for all people. They state that they firmly believe in the fundamental principles of trust, openness, teamwork and professionalism, whilst taking pride in what they do. Shell has devised five key areas of responsibility, these being: responsibility to shareholders; to customers; to employees; to those with whom they do business with; and to society as a whole. Shell takes the responsibility to protect the investment of their shareholders; to win and maintain customers by developing and providing products and services which offer value in terms of price, quality, safety and environmental impact; to respect the human rights of their employees, to promote the interests and skills of their employees; to seek mutually beneficial relationships with contractors, suppliers and in joint ventures and to promote the application of the Shell general principles; to conduct business as responsible corporate members of society and to give proper regard to the environment, health, safety and security.
Eight Principles of Shell
- Principle one, Economic: long term profitability is essential to Shell for achieving their business goals and to continuous growth of the company.
- Principle two, Competition: Shell seeks to compete fairly and ethically, and within the framework of applicable competition laws, they will not prevent others from competing against them.
- Principle three, Business Integrity: Shell companies insist on a principle of honesty, integrity and fairness in all aspects of their business and expect the same in their relationships with those whom they do business with.
- Principle four, Political Activities: of companies; Shell companies must act in a socially responsible manner within the laws of the countries in which they are operating. Of employees; where individuals desire the possibility to engage in political activities at all levels, they will be allowed the opportunity to do so.
- Principle five, Health, Safety, Security and the Environment: Shell companies manage matters regarding health, safety, security and the environment as critical business activities, they continually look for ways to reduce the risk of possible environmental damage.
- Principle six, Local Communities: Shell companies aim to be good neighbours by improving the way in which they contribute either directly or indirectly to the well being of the communities of which they work.
- Principle seven, Communication and Engagement: Shell companies realise that communication and engagement with their shareholders is essential.
- Principle eight, Compliance: Shell state that they comply with all laws and regulations of the countries in which they operate [19]
Shell, a lack of Corporate Social Responsibility?
Shell stands accused of failing to adhere to CSR and as a result fuels the debate on Corporate Social Responsibility (see: Corporate Social Responsibility the current debate for more information) through its pollution of communities, its practices which damage wildlife habitats and its failure to live up to its promise of environmental and social responsibility as outlined in its business principles. Several different case studies will be presented to emphasise these facts, firstly an examination of the operation of Shell in Nigeria.
Nigeria
Shell sources 10% of its oil in the Niger Delta, it is here where one of its greatest crimes against the environment has been uncovered. In the Niger Delta, the failure of the company to invest in technology has resulted in 700 million scf/d of gas being burnt off into the atmosphere in 2005, which is an increase on the previous year despite the new business principles. Gas flaring has become an every day occurrence in the Delta, one which wastes energy, contributes to global warming and pollutes the environment. Oil spills are also extremely common in this area with 9,900 barrels of oil spilt in 2003.
Oronto Douglas of Friends of the Earth Nigeria claims "Shell's business practices in the Niger Delta have destroyed our environment, our farmland and our fisheries. Oil spills are not cleaned up and gas flares dominate the sky line. The people in Nigeria are not benefiting from Shell's presence in our country - we are paying the price. Shell must work with local communities to clean up the Niger Delta and make sure communities receive the benefits of their operations there". [20]
In Nigeria, Shell works in a coalition with the Nigerian government. In 1995 nine activists who spoke out against the exploitation carried out by Shell were executed by the Nigerian government, as a result outrage exploded across the globe. The conviction of the men was part of a joint effort by the government and Shell to hamper the growing movement of the Ogoni people- a movement for environmental justice, economic justice and the acknowledgment of their human rights. Oil from Ogoniland has contributed to $30billion to the economy of Nigeria, yet nothing has been put back into the local community, “Ogoni villages have no clean water, little electricity, few telephones, abysmal health care, and no jobs for displaced farmers and fisher persons, and adding insult to injury, face the effects of unrestrained environmental molestation by Shell everyday” (Boycott Shell, Essential Action). [21] Shell began drilling in Ogoniland in 1958, at that point establishing pipes across the farmland and covering the land with oil from the leaks in the pipes. This assault on the environment has killed masses of local fish, smothered the land and introduced devastating acid rain to the area. The Ogoni people’s livelihood was based on the use of the land for crops and fish for food, no longer could this be done as it led to devastating health consequences.
Ken Saro-Wiwa and the Ogoni8 were all leaders of MOSOP, the Movement of Survival for the Ogoni People, who claimed that Shell was not welcome in Ogoniland. On the 10th of November 1995, all nine were hanged after being found guilty of the murder of four other Ogoni activists, even though none of the nine were present in Ogoniland on the day of the murders. Two witnesses against the MOSOP leaders later admitted that they had been bribed by both Shell and the Nigerian military to testify against Ken Saro-Wiwa. All across the Niger Delta, indigenous groups are being displaced, forced to suffer the same environmental devastation and oppression under Shell and the Nigerian military. Behind the Shine - the Real Impacts of Shell's Work Around the World Friends of the Earth, 23 June 2004, accessed 29 April 2015 </ref>
Ever since the discovery of oil in Nigeria in the 1950s the country has been suffering devastating environmental damages as a result of oil spills, gas flaring and deforestation. The Nigerian Federal Government has attributed to these problems by failing to enforce environmental laws and regulations. There have been over 4,000 oil spills in the Niger Delta since 1960, and gas flaring from oil extraction has resulted in serious air pollution problems in the area. The Nigerian federal government has indicated that it is no longer willing to tolerate oil companies absolving themselves of their responsibility to reduce pollution. [22]
In 1996 Shell launched a PR campaign to clean up their image in the western world, to reassure customers and business partners of their actions. Shell reinstated itself as a company with human rights, social responsibility and sustainable development at the heart of all of its operations. However, after having stated this, the infrastructure of pipelines still criss-cross over the Niger Delta, leaks and oil spills are still common place.
$15.5m Out of Court Settlement
In 2009, Shell settled out of court on the allegations that Shell was complicit in murder, torture and other abuses by Nigeria's former military government against campaigners in the Niger Delta. It is alleged that Shell officials helped to supply Nigerian police with weapons during the 1990s, that Shell participated in security sweeps in parts of Ogoniland and hired government troops that shot at villagers who protested against a pipeline and that Shell helped the government capture and hang Ken Saro-Wiwa and several of his colleagues [23]. The case was initiated 13 years ago by relatives of nine anti-oil campaigners, including author Ken Saro-Wiwa, who were hanged in 1995 by Nigeria's then military rulers. The case was due to be heard in the U.S. courts the week following the settlement offer of $15.5m (£9.7m).
Shell deny the allegations, claiming that the settlement is simply a matter of 'reconciliation' but as the Guardian reports the plaintifs 'had assembled a formidable case' against Shell. [24]13 years is a long time to be fighting for justice through the courts and if Shell had been found guilty as charged they still had the option of appeal which would result in the case being dragged out without resolution for many more years to come.
As Vidal in the Guardian argues, settling out of court suggests 'that Shell wants to bury the facts about what was happening on the Niger delta in the 1970s and 1980s when it was extracting tens of millions of barrels of oil a year from Ogoniland while allowing the people to slide into destitution as it was destroying their environment. The settlement stops the world knowing exactly what was the company's relationship with the national government and the military, and the extent of Shell's involvement in the human rights abuses that led to Ken Saro-Wiwa's execution'. It could indeed have been intensely embarrassing for the company if it all had come out, and as environmental abuses continue and the security situation for people of the region has got far worse that before, shining a light on the details of Shell's involvement could be described as a potential PR disaster waiting to happen. Vital reports that oil companies provide the Nigerian state with 90% of their foreign earnings and anyone who stands up for environmental justice or who challenges the oil companies is now in mortal danger.
Vital argues that the settlement falls short of justice, that the sum of $15.5m (£9.6m) may be peanuts for the company and can do little to compensate the 500,000 Ogoni people for generations of devastating pollution, human rights abuses and persecution. However he does go on to describe how Shell's decision to settle out of court could backfire. As he states:
- 'The precedent of a Nigerian community suing a multinational oil company in a western court has been set. There are thousands more Ogoni who will now want to bring their case to the west to see justice done, as well as other Niger Delta tribes like the Ijaw, the Igbo, the Ibibio and the Itsekiri who also want justice. There have been more than 500 pollution cases against Shell in Nigeria, but few reach court and the company has been able to use the appeal system to delay those that do for many years. Now the lesson is that justice and reparation can be obtained abroad. A Dutch court will soon hear a case brought against Shell by other Niger Delta villagers following a major oil spill years ago. Meanwhile, in Ecuador, Chevron is about to hear its fate in a massive pollution case that has been going on for nearly 10 years. It's quite possible the company will be fined more than $4bn.' [24]
South Africa
In South Africa, the largest oil refinery is a joint venture between Shell and BP, called the South African Petroleum Refinery (SAPREF). Locals have claimed that explosions, fires and leaks from the pipelines are a regular occurrence in the vicinity of the refinery. Many oil leaks have taken place in the past few years, contaminating Durban Harbour and protected wetlands, and settling under the homes of locals, causing severe illness. Shell is attempting to address issues raised against it, by stating that it operates (voluntarily) under the guidelines of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, as well as policies established by the European Union in its management and operation of the SAPREF refinery. (Lessons Not learned: The Other Shell Report). [25]
Brazil
In Brazil, in January 2005 Shell was forced to comply to government orders requiring Shell to: abstain from its practices of dumping and burying toxic waste; remediate contaminated area; monitor the water in artesian wells for toxic chemicals and heavy metals; implement effective measures to remove high concentrations of harmful substances detected in the wells; and also to protect the health of their workers both previous and current. In Brazil instead of cleaning up the contamination Shell has been “evading responsibility for years”. (Lessons Not learned: The Other Shell Report). [26]
USA
Not only have the claims that Shell has been avoiding its responsibility to local citizens coming from the developing world, claims too have come from the United States:
“We see a side of Shell that its board of directors and managers try to hide from the public. The Shell we know recklessly operates an oil refinery across the street from our homes. Every day Shell dumps toxic pollution on our neighbourhood that is damaging our health, especially that of our children who can’t breathe without an inhaler.” -Hilton Kelley, Director of Community In-power Development Association (Lessons Not learned: The Other Shell Report). [27]
Texas
Shell operates a huge oil refinery called Motiva in West Port Arthur, Texas. An independent survey conducted by the University of Texas at Galveston Medical Branch in 2002 found that 80% of the residents of West Port Arthur surveyed, suffered from heart conditions and respiratory problems, compared to 30% of people who do not live in the vicinity of a refinery (Lessons Not learned: The Other Shell Report). [28]>Motiva takes advantage of huge exemptions in the US environmental regulations, which allow the refinery to exceed pollution limits in a time of malfunction. In 2003 the Motiva refinery polluted the air with 233,559 kg (514,910 pounds) of toxins as a result of malfunctions.
Louisiana
The town of Norco in Louisiana is home to a large Shell refinery and a Shell chemical facility. The Norco neighbourhood of Diamond is situated in the middle of the two Shell facilities. The CCN (Concerned Citizens of Norco) was established to lobby Shell, and finally in 2002 Shell agreed to meet the demands of the local community for a fair and just relocation and a reduction on the pollution of its own facilities. One downfall facing the CNN is that “Shell has not acknowledged any of the potential health impacts of its operations” (Lessons Not learned: The Other Shell Report). [29]
What all of these communities across the globe have in common, is that they have been used by Shell as the “dumping grounds for oil refining, chemical manufacturing, oil and gas drilling, and storage of oil products”. [30]This blatant lack of respect for communities(both for the people and the environment of such communities) has caused Shell to be attacked by many lobbyists. The remainder of this report shall be presented in Shell vs Human Rights and Environmental Lobbyists.
Meetings with ministers
According to the Guardian, between 2010 and 2014 Shell had at least 112 meetings with ministers and its rival BP had at least 79 . The newspaper found that during this period there were at least 230 meetings with fossil fuel companies Shell, BP, ExxonMobil, Total, ConocoPhillips, Chevron and trade organisation Oil & Gas UK. This figure is a significantly higher number than meetings with renewable energy companies and their campaign groups - with Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth having just 67 meetings between them.[31]
PR and Lobbying firms
UK
- Edelman[32]
- Fishburn Hedges[33]
- Hill and Knowlton, since June 2014[34]
- MHP Communications in 2014[35]
- Hanover
- Weber Shandwick Public Affairs
- Lexington Communications, until August 2013[36]
Europe and US
- Deutsche Shell is listed as a client of FischerAppelt Kommunikation [37]
- In 2008, Shell is listed as a member of the American Benefits Council [38]
Affiliations
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This article is part of the Spinwatch Fracking Portal and project |
- Shell UK Limited has been a donor to the Science Media Centre from 2005-2011 according to the SMC. [39]
- Associated member of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Unconventional Oil and Gas (which is run by lobbying and PR firm Hill and Knowlton). Paid £2500 in membership fees.[40]
Resources
- Shell: Who, Where, How Much?
- Shell: Influence / Lobbying
- Shell: Corporate Crimes
- Shell: Links, contacts & resources
- Shell Foundation
- Shell and COP15
- Shell Wind
Notes
- ↑ THE RISE AND FALL OF THE GLOBAL CLIMATE COALITION Worldwatch Issue Alert, accessed 29 April 2015
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Ken Saro Wiwa and 8 Ogoni People Executed:Blood on Shell's Hands greenpeace.org, accessed 29 April 2015
- ↑ Arthur Nelson Shell lobbied to undermine EU renewables targets, documents reveal Guardian, 27 April 2015, accessed 27 April 2015.
- ↑ Shell European Parliament, accessed 27 April 2015.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Group Origins Shell, accessed 29 April 2015
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 [www.countonshell.com/welcome/history/history.html History of Innovation] Shell, accessed 29 April 2015
- ↑ [Financial and Operating Information, 1996-2000, Royal-Dutch/Shell group of companies, page 10]
- ↑ [The Ecologist, Climate Change Report, November 2001]
- ↑ Press Releases and Diaries from the Brent Spar Occupation greenpeace.org, accessed 29 April 2015
- ↑ Shell -100 years is enough! Corporate Watch, accessed 29 April 2015
- ↑ [www.greenpeace.org/pressreleases/oceandumping/1998nov25.html]
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ [2]
- ↑ Investor’s Corner The Malta Business Weekly, accessed 29 April 2015
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 [www.shell.com/investordata/downloads/134/q42000pdf3.pdf Results 2000] Shell, accessed 29 April 2015
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Annual reports and accounts 2000 BP, accessed 29 April 2015
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 [Summary annual report, 2000] Exxon Mobil, accessed 29 April 2015
- ↑ Management Centrica, accessed 26th August 2008
- ↑ [3]
- ↑ [ http://web.archive.org/web/20130904002551/http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/press_releases/call_on_uk_government_to_s_14102004.html Call on UK Government to Stop Funding Oil Destruction] Friends of the Earth, accessed 29 April 2015
- ↑ Boycott Shell Shell, accessed 29 April 2015
- ↑ Nigeria: Environmental Issues eia, accessed 29 April 2015
- ↑ Shell settles Nigeria deaths case BBC News, 9 June 2009, accessed 17 July 2009
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 Shell settlement with Ogoni people stops short of full justice The Guardian, 10 June 2009, accessed 17 July 2009
- ↑ (Lessons Not learned: The Other Shell Report)
- ↑ (Lessons Not learned: The Other Shell Report)
- ↑ (Lessons Not learned: The Other Shell Report)
- ↑ (Lessons Not learned: The Other Shell Report)
- ↑ (Lessons Not learned: The Other Shell Report)
- ↑ (Lessons Not learned: The Other Shell Report)
- ↑ Rob Evans, Helena Bengtsson, Damian Carrington and Emma Howard Shell and BP alone eclipse renewable energy sector on access to ministers Guardian, 28 April 2015, accessed 29 April 2015.
- ↑ Register 1st September 2014 - 30th November 2014 APPC, accessed 29 January 2015
- ↑ Register 1st September 2014 - 30th November 2014 and to February 2015 APPC, accessed 28 January 2015
- ↑ Register 1st September 2014 - 30th November 2014 APPC, accessed 29 January 2015
- ↑ Register 1st September 2014 - 30th November 2014 APPC, accessed 23 February 2015
- ↑ Register for 1st June 2013 - 31st August 2013 APPC, accessed 8 April 2015
- ↑ Current & former clients FischerAppelt Kommunikation, accessed 14th February 2008
- ↑ Memberships American Benefits Council, accessed 26th February 2008
- ↑ Data from Internet Archive holdings of the Science Media Centre website, 2002-2013.
- Nov 2005 http://web.archive.org/web/20051227000834/http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/funding.htm
- Apr 2006 http://web.archive.org/web/20060910221525/http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/funding.htm
- Feb 2007 http://web.archive.org/web/20070829210611/http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/funding.htm
- Jul 2008 http://web.archive.org/web/20081202143334/http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/pages/about/funding.htm
- May 2009 http://web.archive.org/web/20090830202526/http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/pages/about/funding.htm
- May 2010 http://web.archive.org/web/20100822091312/http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/pages/about/funding.htm
- Jun 2011 http://web.archive.org/web/20110807075127/http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/pages/about/funding.htm
- ↑ Associate members list, www.appgunconventionaloilandgas.com, accessed 22 October 2015