saveplanetearth:

Nigerians sue Shell in London over Delta pollution @ Reuters

Shell in court over Nigeria oil spill compensation @ BBC

Nigerian villagers’ lawsuit could set big oil precedent @ The Independent

A group of 11,000 Nigerians have initiated a court case against the oil giant Shell in pursuit of tens of millions of dollars they believe they are owed in compensation for two oil spills in 2008.

Shell’s Nigerian unit has admitted responsibility for the leaks that devastated the Bodo fishing community, a settlement of 49,000 people in 35 villages, through which a maze of pipelines criss-cross mangrove swamps and creeks.

But the company disagrees with the claimants about how much oil was spilled and how much compensation is due. Talks to resolve the dispute broke down last week, sparking yesterday’s proceedings at the High Court in London. (…)

(via socialuprooting)

reuters:

Royal Dutch Shell is struggling to pay off $1 billion that it owes Iran for crude oil because European Union and U.S. financial sanctions now make it almost impossible to process payments, industry sources said

Four sources said the oil major owes a large sum to the National Iranian Oil Co (NIOC) for deliveries of crude, with one putting the figure at close to $1 billion. A debt of that size would equate to roughly four large tanker loads of Iranian crude or about 8 million barrels.

“Shell is working hard to figure out a way to pay NIOC,” said an industry source, who requested anonymity. “It’s very sensitive and very difficult. They want to stay on good terms with Iran, while abiding by sanctions.”

A Shell spokesman declined to comment.

Read more: Shell scrambles to pay huge bill for Iran oil

(via socialuprooting)