European Union Signals a Move Away from Wood Energy
New York TimesNov 26, 2022
The Facts
Shell announced on Friday that it will pay 15M euros ($15.9M) to Nigerian communities that were affected by multiple oil pipeline leaks in the Niger Delta.
The settlement results from a Dutch court case brought by the environmental group Friends of the Earth last year. The court claimed that Shell’s Nigerian subsidiary, SPDC, was responsible for oil spills and had to pay farmers for the damages.
The Spin
Establishment-critical narrative
Oil spills have had devastating consequences for Nigerian communities, and Shell is responsible for most of them. For decades Shell’s negligence has disrupted people’s livelihoods and brought about irreparable environmental damage. This is not the first time Shell has had to pay a fine or settlement, and most likely, not the last.
Pro-establishment narrative
Shell and other oil companies are putting in the work to invest in Nigeria and its communities. Shell is committed to Nigeria’s development and is working to build major upstream projects and improve the current infrastructure already in Nigeria in a safe and sustainable way.
