Shell faces lawsuit over Niger Delta pollution

Pollution: Shell will defend its environmental record in the Niger Delta on Thursday

Anglo-Dutch supermajor Shell will defend its environmental record in the Niger Delta on Thursday as it faces a lawsuit that may set a precedent for damage claims related to the activities of international companies.

The case, filed in a local court in The Hague where Shell has its joint global headquarters, seeks to make Shell and other corporations responsible for pollution resulting from three oil spills in 2004, 2005 and 2007 in Africa's top energy producer, Reuters reported.

Plaintiffs are four Nigerians and campaigning group Friends of the Earth.

The four, who are fishermen and farmers, are seeking unspecified compensation and argue they can no longer feed their families because the area has been polluted with oil from Shell's pipelines and production facilities.

Shell says the pollution was…

Become an Upstream member!

Membership includes a subscription to our weekly newspaper providing in-depth news from the energy industry, plus full-access to this site and its archives. Still not convinced? Try our free trial.

Already a member?

Login

Upstream share price index