December 23, (THEWILL) – Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC) will pay 15 million euros to communities in Nigeria that were affected by multiple oil pipeline leaks in the Niger Delta, according to a statement by the oil company.
Shell said Friday that it had reached a deal with the Dutch environmental group, Milieudefensie that has helped the affected communities.
“Under the settlement, The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC) as operator of the SPDC joint venture, will pay an amount of EUR 15 million for the benefit of the communities and the individual claimants,” it said in a statement.
The deal also confirms the installation of a leak detection system on 20 pipeline segments in accordance with the Dutch court ruling and that remediation work has been completed.
Following the judgments of the Court of Appeal of The Hague on 29 January 2021, Shell and Milieudefensie negotiated a settlement for the benefit of the communities of Oruma, Goi and Ikot Ada Udo, impacted by four oil spills that occurred between 2004 and 2007.
According to the statement, the settlement is on a no-admission of liability basis, and settles all claims and ends all pending litigation related to the spills.
“Under the settlement, SPDC, as operator of the SPDC joint venture, will pay an amount of €15 million for the benefit of the communities and the individual claimants.
“An independent expert has confirmed that SPDC, as operator of the SPDC joint venture, has installed a leak detection system on the 20” lines that form the KCTL Pipeline in compliance with the judgment of the Court of Appeal of The Hague, the Netherlands,” the statement said.
The statement added that remediation has been completed and certified by relevant regulatory agencies in Nigeria, in accordance with Nigerian law.
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