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Internal files expose Shell's awareness of pipeline dangers
Confidential documents obtained by the BBC show that Shell continued operating a major oil pipeline in Nigeria for years despite internal warnings about widespread pollution and safety risks. The files, disclosed during UK legal proceedings, reveal that senior executives raised concerns as early as 2008 about the Nembe Creek Trunk Line, which was plagued by oil theft, sabotage, and infrastructure failures.
Decades of spills scar Nigeria's Niger Delta
The 60-mile pipeline, sold by Shell last year, was one of the company's largest and most problematic assets in Nigeria, capable of transporting up to 150,000 barrels of oil daily. However, it became a frequent target for illegal oil thieves and suffered repeated spills, devastating local ecosystems and livelihoods. The UN estimates that at least 13 million barrels of crude oil have spilled in Nigeria since 1958, with over 7,000 incidents recorded.
Residents of the riverine community of Bille, near the pipeline, describe once-thriving fishing grounds now coated in crude oil. Balafama Augustus Bruce, a 64-year-old fisherman and claimant in the lawsuit against Shell, said the spills have destroyed his livelihood. "Before 2011, this was a beautiful area. People played here and fished in the river," he told the BBC. "Now, most fish are hard to find, and those we catch are often deformed."
Executives debated risks but opted to keep pumping
Internal emails from 2008 reveal a heated exchange between senior Shell executives over the decision to continue operating the pipeline despite its deteriorating condition. Markus Droll, then the company's technical vice-president, warned that another "massive explosive attack" could force a shutdown. "I don't agree that funding can be an issue," he wrote. "The approach makes me-as your Technical VP-pretty uncomfortable."
Ann Pickard, Shell's regional executive vice-president at the time, responded by criticizing Droll for not marking the email as "legally privileged," which would have protected it from being used in court. She acknowledged the decision was difficult but argued that continuing operations represented the "lower risk to both people and environment."
A 2012 internal document further exposed Shell's awareness of the pipeline's poor condition, with sections classified as "red" due to extensive illegal oil-theft connections. According to the company's own standards, this status required either an immediate shutdown or corrective action. However, executives argued that halting operations would only lead to more illegal connections elsewhere, and the pipeline continued to pump oil.
Shell defends actions amid legal battle
Shell has consistently argued that most of the pollution in the Niger Delta was caused by "large-scale oil theft, sabotage," and illegal refineries. The company claims it invested heavily in spill response and worked with Nigerian authorities and local communities to address the issues. In a statement to the BBC, Shell said decisions were based on "complex factors," including the region's security challenges, and that it took steps to clean up spills "regardless of cause."
However, local leaders in Bille reject Shell's claims. Chief Boma Renner Dappa, spokesperson for the Bille local leaders' council, accused the company of prioritizing profits over the community's well-being. "They are not concerned about what happens to you," he said. "All that has happened in this environment is as a result of negligence."
Communities seek $1 billion in damages
The ongoing lawsuit in the UK, brought by communities affected by the spills, seeks $1 billion (£742 million) in compensation for environmental damage, health impacts, and lost livelihoods. Law firm Leigh Day, representing the claimants, argues that Shell's London headquarters made key decisions that led to the destruction of the Niger Delta's environment. "The communities are determined to hold the company responsible for the oil pollution which still blights their lives today," the firm said.
Shell has denied the allegations, stating it will "vigorously defend" the claims at trial next year. The company also noted that some members of the Bille community were involved in oil theft, a claim residents deny.
Environmental and health toll persists
For residents like Taminoibitein Philip, a 49-year-old periwinkle harvester, the pollution has made life increasingly difficult. "When you go to the bush, you won't see periwinkle [anymore]," she said. "The odour is killing us-some places have crude oil, some have gas. We don't benefit. We are suffering."
Philip and others hope the lawsuit will force Shell to clean up the waterways. "Let them come and flush the river for us," she said. Meanwhile, the Nigerian government has not responded to the BBC's request for comment on Shell's claims about the security situation in the region.
"We strongly believe in the merits of our case and will vigorously defend the claims at trial next year."
Shell spokesperson
