ShellNews.net: The Sunday Times article "Corrib threat to Shell sell-off: "Do we spy another PR disaster on Shell’s horizon after Nigeria, Brent Spar and the reserves debacle?": 17.40: Sunday 3 July 2005

By John Donovan

Editor, ShellNews.net

Do we spy another PR disaster on Shell’s horizon after Nigeria, Brent Spar and the reserves debacle?

During the Shell Transport AGM last Tuesday, Lord Oxburgh said that Shell had decided against becoming involved in the Corrib pipeline project in Ireland and only changed its mind because of pleading from local people. Shell management must be wondering whether it should have stuck with its first decision, as there appears to be all of the ingredients present for another Shell PR disaster al-la Brent Spar.

Even the political wing of the IRA has entered the fray with comments from Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams, that the five men jailed for obstructing the construction of a Shell gas pipeline in Co Mayo are right to take a stand.

The gathering storm reminds me of an almost two hour meeting I had on 25 May 1995 with the then Shell UK Chairman & CEO, Dr Chris Fay, at the height of the Brent Spar affair. Although the meeting in his palatial office suite at Shell-Mex House had nothing to do with Brent Spar, Dr Fay brought up the subject. He confessed that he was wondering if all of the pressure on him was worth putting up with. He appeared totally fed up and depressed with his lot in life – butler and all.

If Shell does not get a grip on the Irish situation it could create similar difficulties in terms of more unwanted adverse publicity.

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