Internal Records Reveal Shell Continued Nigeria Pipeline Operations Amidst Known Pollution Risks

Newly obtained internal documents indicate that British multinational Shell persisted in operating a critical oil pipeline in Nigeria for years, fully aware that its activities were contributing to severe environmental degradation. The records, acquired by the BBC, demonstrate that the company ignored both its own technical standards and warnings from its staff regarding the widespread pollution caused by the infrastructure.

As early as 2008, a senior Shell executive issued a caution regarding the dangers of continuing to transport millions of barrels of unrefined fuel through one of the company’s primary African pipelines. At the time, the pipeline was already suffering from massive, destructive theft and infrastructure failures in Africa’s largest oil producer. The evidence, which includes emails and internal presentations, was disclosed by Shell as part of ongoing legal proceedings in the United Kingdom. These proceedings were initiated by communities residing near the creeks and mangroves of the Niger Delta, who are seeking to hold Shell responsible for pollution resulting from over 100 leaks between 2011 and 2013. These incidents, largely stemming from oil theft and illegal refining, have severely impacted the residents' health, livelihoods, and the local environment.

The Nembe Creek Trunk Line, a 60-mile (96.5km) pipeline, transported oil from inland fields to a coastal export processing site, passing near the riverine community of Bille. Comprising 45 islands, Bille is situated along this route. Although Shell sold the pipeline last year, it remained one of its most significant, costly, and problematic assets in Nigeria during its operation. Designed to handle up to 150,000 barrels of oil daily, the pipeline was frequently targeted by illegal thieves and plagued by spills.

In its defense, the oil giant has argued in court documents that the majority of the contamination resulted from "large-scale oil theft, sabotage," and the proliferation of illegal refineries. Shell’s Nigerian subsidiary maintains that it invested heavily over many years to mitigate spill risks and improve response capabilities.

However, the reality on the ground tells a different story. In Bille, where the BBC recently conducted a visit, locals report that once-productive fishing grounds have become toxic and unusable. Balafama Augustus Bruce, a 64-year-old fisherman and claimant in the lawsuit against Shell, described the stark transformation of his home. "Before 2011, here was a beautiful area. People play here and go into the river," Bruce recalled. He noted that prior to the spills, he could catch a diverse range of seafood, including sardines, catfish, tilapia, and oysters. Today, these species are either scarce or appear deformed. "We used to fish around here. But because of the damage [the spills] have caused, nobody is fishing here again," he said. "Because of that I've become poor. I eat from hand to mouth."

Through the ongoing international legal action, the affected communities are demanding $1 billion (£742 million) in total, which includes $250 million in compensation and $750 million designated for environmental remediation.

The environmental toll in the region has been catastrophic since Shell began exporting Nigerian oil in 1958. According to United Nations data, at least 13 million barrels (1.5 million tonnes) of crude have been released in at least 7,000 separate incidents. Campaigners have long sought to hold multinational corporations accountable for this damage. Notably, Ken Saro-Wiwa, a prominent Nigerian writer and critic of Shell’s operations, led demonstrations against pollution in his native Ogoniland region of the Niger Delta before being executed by the military government in 1995.

Oil theft, locally known as "bunkering," has been a persistent issue in the Niger Delta. Criminal gangs typically tap into pipelines to siphon crude into boats or storage tanks. Some of this stolen oil is processed in makeshift refineries hidden within the creeks, while the remainder is sold on the black market. During the mid-2000s, the security situation deteriorated further due to oil militancy, with heavily armed militants using speedboats to attack installations and kidnap foreign workers for ransom, including numerous incidents in 2007 and 2008, as part of their demands for greater resources in the impoverished region.

Source: BBC News Generated at: 2026-06-03 05:13:02 UTC