ThisIsLondon: Friends of the Earth target Shell

24 June 2004

SHELL has overstated its environmental performance as well as its reserves, says Friends of the Earth. It is still 'flaring' (burning off) gas in Nigeria, which is wasteful and damaging, and is taking too long to clear up oil spills.

FOE's Brian Shadd, just back from the Nigerian delta, says a huge spill in Port Harcourt last December has yet to be cleaned up.

FOE says Shell is 'putting more effort into green spin than green delivery'.

Shell says 141 of last year's 221 spills were deliberately caused, some by thieves.

Communities from Nigeria, South Africa and the Philippines will challenge its board at Monday's annual general meeting.

There will be a queue. Big City investors are also planning tough questions, though their anger has cooled since Shell promised to report on board reforms by November.

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