Shell Ordered To Compensate Nigerian Farmers Affected By Oil Spills

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Friends of the Earth supporters unfold a banner on Friday outside the district court in The Hague, Netherlands, where the court delivered its judgment in a long-running case in which four Nigerian farmers are seeking compensation and a cleanup from energy giant Shell for pollution caused by leaking oil pipelines in the Niger Delta.

Mike Corder/AP

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Mike Corder/AP

Environment
Climate Case Against Shell Begins In The Netherlands

«Finally, there is some justice for the Nigerian people suffering the consequences of Shell’s oil, Eric Dooh, one of the Nigerian plaintiffs, said in a statement after the verdict. His father was also a plaintiff, but died before the case wrapped up.

«Three of the four Nigerian plaintiffs and their fellow villagers must now be compensated for the damage caused and Shell must ensure that there is a leakage detection system in the pipelines in Nigeria, Friends of the Earth, the environmental organization that sued Shell, said in a statement. «It is the first time that a court has held Dutch transnational corporation accountable for its duty of care abroad.

The court has not yet set the amount of compensation the farmers will receive, and the verdict can be appealed to a higher court.

The plaintiffs said the spills were caused by the company’s negligence.

Shell’s Nigerian subsidiary, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited, maintains that spills were caused by sabotage, which could reduce its liability. But the appeals court ruled that Shell has not proved that claim «beyond reasonable doubt.

«We are therefore disappointed that this court has made a different finding on the cause of these spills and in its finding that SPDC is liable, a spokesperson for the company told NPR. «Sabotage, crude oil theft and illegal refining are a major challenge in the Niger Delta.

In a previous ruling in 2013, a lower Dutch court took a narrower view of the case. As The Associated Press reported, it said the Nigerian subsidiary should compensate just one of the farmers, and found that the Dutch company could not be held liable. In 2015, after appeals from both sides, judges ruled that Shell could be held liable for the pollution in Dutch courts.

Shell is facing another major legal challenge in The Netherlands, in a case also brought by environmentalists including Friends of the Earth Netherlands. The plaintiffs want Shell to be forced to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions. As NPR’s Laurel Wamsley reported, the lawsuit «could have implications for future cases and the role of companies in meeting climate targets.