Black gold pours into the Gulf of Suez, Libya struggles to deal with a tanker explosion, and Shell still hasn’t covered the costs of it exploration and exploitation in the Niger Delta.
This summer has been a torrid time for anyone working PR for the oil and gas industry. Climate change events have been starkly visible, soaring temperatures and drought conditions across much of Europe and swathes of the US, and SkyTruth’s report into the impact of offshore infrastructure are just two recent examples of the news big, dirty energy struggles to content with.
Then you read about two potentially severe environmental catastrophes in that threaten ecosystems, livelihoods and public health in a region already up against it. Egypt is working to mitigate the fallout from a barge which has capsized in the Gulf of Suez.
The vessel, belonging to Saudi Arabian drilling firm Ades Holding was being towed to a new location amid rocketing fossil fuel activity in the area – with the state-owned General Petroleum Company driving no less than 41 well drills in a huge investment push. Hardly net zero talk.
It’s still too early to ascertain the impact of this disaster, but the financials alone are set to be significant. And this occurred just days after an explosion onboard a tanker carrying close to 1million barrels of crude oil off the Libyan coast, casting the dangers of offshore incidents in sharp relief and raising questions as to what happens next and who will be responsible for orchestrating and organising clean ups.
‘Just two weeks ago, we documented an oil spill off the coast of the United Arab Emirates in the Strait of Hormuz,’ says Farah Al Hattab, A Campaigner at Greenpeace MENA. ‘These unfortunate events and the resulting spills are stark reminders of the fragility of oil infrastructure and the insufficient emergency preparedness and response, particularly in the face of climate change.’
Of course, this is easier said than done. Egypt is considered a lower-middle-income country, with 1.5% of the population living on less than $2.15 per day. Indicative of significant challenges and pressures at a governmental level which can easily limit resources available to deal with an oil spill, delaying clean up progress. Meanwhile, Libya’s vast oil wealth is not reflected in economic prosperity, and years of conflict, instability and poor investment in public services leave capacity for response even weaker, if not completely hamstrung.
‘We call on the relevant authorities to immediately conduct a thorough, transparent environmental risk assessment and take urgent measures, including the removal of the sunken drilling structure from the Suez Canal and the monitoring of potential leaks from the exploded ship in Libya,’ Al Hattab continues.
‘Emergency systems and rapid response capabilities must be reinforced, and coordination with local civil society must be prioritized before it’s too late,’ they add. ‘Continued oil dependence in a region that is environmentally critical constitutes an ongoing environmental disaster and a key driver of climate breakdown. We therefore urge governments across the region to make a firm decision to transition toward clean and sustainable energy sources.’
Many people have a right to be concerned, then, not least given historic trends across the oil and gas sector of not taking appropriate responsibility. In May, Nigerian authorities warned Shell it could still be liable for tens of billions in compensation resulting from 70 years of reckless exploration and exploitation leading to significant and widespread pollution in and around the Niger Delta.
Despite selling off its Nigerian subsidy SPDC to Renaissance Group – a five firm consortium of domestic exploration and production companies and an international energy group – red flags are raised over the new owner’s ability to cover this historic debt. If unable to pay, authorities will once again come for Shell, once again stalling efforts to claim money for environmental damage which have so far taken decades to get nowhere.
According to a comprehensive, four-year study by the Bayelsa State Oil and Environmental Commission, around $12billion is owed to nine Niger Delta states due to environmental devastation. Beyond this, Ogale and Bille community leaders are taking legal action against Shell in UK courts over land and water contamination, while members of Nigeria’s Bodo community are also pursuing $660million in damages.
‘A just energy transition is critical, and it is about time Shell takes part in it,’ says Ana Xambre Pereira, Advocacy Officer at the Dutch human and environmental rights non-profit, Both ENDS Shell’s current exit is not a responsible divestment nor an energy transition, it’s an offloading of toxic assets and liabilities onto the local communities, while Shell continues its offshore fossil fuel operations and walks away with the profits. A just energy transition means enforcing clear standards for responsible divestment now, before more communities are sacrificed.’
‘When will Shell stop prioritising profit over public health? Our findings from the blood tests of 80 women in Otuabagi, show hydrocarbon levels more than 8000 times above World Health Organization permissible limits,’ adds Dr Dr. Emem Okon, Executive Director of Kebetkache Women Development & Resource Centre in Nigeria. ‘The Bayelsa Oil and Environment Commission tested the blood of 1600 persons, and all had hydrocarbons in their blood too. Women are suffering from respiratory diseases, fertility problems, breast cancer, eyesight impairment, among many others! Shell cannot divest without clean-up and remediation.’
Image: Logan Voss / Unsplash
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