BOSSTYCOONZ

Amnesty, CEHRD Allege Manipulation Of Oil Spill Probes By Shell

A human rights groups, Amnesty International and the Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development, CEHRD, in a report released, yesterday, accused Shell Petroleum Development Company of manipulating investigations into oil spills in the Niger Delta region.
The groups also said that Shell’s claim on oil pollution in the region was suspicious and often untrue.
According to them, “Shell and other oil companies refer to sabotage and theft in the Niger Delta as if it absolved them of responsibility. The Niger Delta is the only place in the world where companies brazenly admit to massive oil pollution from their operations and claim it is not their fault.”
In a report published by the two groups, they “uncovered specific cases in which Shell had wrongly reported the cause of oil spills, the volume of oil spills, or the extent and adequacy of clean up measures.
“Shell is being disingenuous about the devastation caused by its Niger Delta operations. This new evidence shows that Shell’s claims about the oil spills cannot be trusted,” said Audrey Gaughran, Director of Global Issues at Amnesty International.
“New analysis from an independent expert found that so-called official investigation reports into the cause of oil spills in the Niger Delta can be very subjective, misleading and downright false. The report highlights systemic weaknesses in the way the cause of a spill and the volume are determined with some significant errors in the volumes that are recorded as spills.
“The consequences for the affected communities are devastating and can result in them receiving little or no compensation. The oil companies do not have to back up the claims with full and independent evidence. The evidence that does exist remains firmly under their control,” said Styvn Obodoekwe, Director of Programmes at CEHRD.
“Following Amnesty International and CEHRD’s request, the independent United States oil pipeline specialist Accufacts, assessed a number of oil spill investigation reports, as well as responses from oil companies operating in the Niger Delta and Nigeria’s national oil spill agency.

“The expert found cases where the stated cause of an oil spill appears to be wrongly attributed to sabotage. In many other cases sabotage was listed as the cause when there was little or no data recorded to back up the claim.”
It is the communities that suffer a life sentence, with their land and livelihoods destroyed by the pollution,” said Gaughran.
“Almost anywhere else they would be challenged on why they have done so little to prevent it. Shell’s claims about how much oil is spilt due to sabotage and theft are increasingly being challenged.  In June 2013 a Dutch agency found that the oil giant’s statements were based on disputed evidence and flawed investigations.
“As Shell’s claims on sabotage and theft come under scrutiny the company’s story is changing; we now hear more about illegal refining being the cause of oil pollution. Yet again, Shell is spinning a real problem into a PR shield for the company,” said Obodoekwe.
“Illegal refining causes pollution, but Shell cannot claim it is occurring in specific cases unless and until it produces reliable proof.”
The report argues that companies should be legally liable for failure to take effective action to protect their systems, including from sabotage.
Amnesty International and CEHRD are, meanwhile, calling on the oil companies to publish all investigation reports, associated photos and videos.
“Shell must provide verifiable evidence of the cause and damage to the impacted area. The Nigerian government must also substantially strengthen the capacity of the regulators including by providing an increased budget for its operations.”