Contempt case for Shell over gas

[Eugene]

Last Updated: Saturday, 24 December 2005, 16:16 GMT

Contempt case for Shell over gas

By Richard Black
Environment Correspondent, BBC News website

The oil multinational Shell is facing contempt of court proceedings in Nigeria over gas flaring.

Last month, a court ordered the company to stop flaring gas from oil wells in the country, which
accounts for much of Africa's greenhouse gas emissions.

Shell has not halted the practice, so campaign groups have initiated proceedings for contempt of court,
which can result in imprisonment.

Shell has appealed against the initial judgement and denies it is in contempt.

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Full article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4556662.stm

[thefool_wa]

1. Good on them

I love to see the Oil companies taking it in the rear, I hope they issue and arrest warrant for the CEO of Shell Oil then we extradite him. Pipe dream? Yes, but a guy has to have Christmas wishes, right?

I'll bet the penalties for contempt in Nigeria are pretty harsh too.

[Oerdin]

2. Hmm.

Witout a dedicated natural gas pipeline connecting every well head I'm not sure what the alternative is to flairing the gas. Even if the cost of producing such massive amounts of dedicated pipelines could be produced economically, and if Nigeria has a delivery system to get that gas into homes and businesses (which is doubtful), then it would still take years for Shell to build the pipe networks. Essentially, the Nigerian judge has given Shell two options 1) stop all production until such a dedicated pipeline is produced or 2) Continue flairing and just pay a fine. What else can they really do?

BTW the cost of such natural gas only pipeline means that the majority of the gas produced in first world countries is also flaired. There just isn't an economical way to get the gas from every well head to the distribution systems even in Rich countries so it is doubtful Nigeria is any where close.