By John Donovan
In its apparent desperation to increase production and rebuild reserves after the 2004 securities fraud and the further loss of reserves arising from the Sakhalin-2 debacle, Shell management seems to have completely lost its moral compass (if it ever had one). We first became aware of this over a decade ago.
Duplicity in Nigeria
Shell has admitted that it has a corrupt commercial relationship with militant leaders involved in attacking Shell employees and pipelines. What is the motive for the illicit payments made by Shell to the militants? Does Shell pay off the gangsters (a dangerous unethical policy guaranteed to encourage more attacks and kidnappings) in the hope of keeping the oil flowing? Or are the militants paid to impede production on a regular basis to drive up global oil prices, thereby generating billions in windfall profits (as has been reported to us by a high level Shell insider source)? Shell has also admitted in a leaked internal report that its activities have fuelled the corruption and violence in Nigeria.