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April 25th, 2008:

Nigeria Says Strike, Attacks Cut Oil Output in Half

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Bloomberg: Nigeria Says Strike, Attacks Cut Oil Output in Half (Update2)

By Julie Ziegler and Dulue Mbachu

April 25 (Bloomberg) — Nigeria is losing about 50 percent of its current oil production because of a strike at Exxon Mobil Corp.’s operations in the country and militant attacks on a Royal Dutch Shell Plc pipeline, the country’s oil minister said.

Petroleum Minister of State H. Odein Ajumogobia said in an interview in Abuja that he held a meeting with union leaders today in an effort to end an oil workers union strike against Exxon Mobil’s Nigeria unit. He said he expects to hear back from the union this evening. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Strike, rebel attacks hit Nigerian oil output

Reuters image
A man walk past a banner for oil giant Royal Dutch Shell in Nigeria’s main city of Lagos January 12, 2006.: REUTERS/George Esiri
Reuters: Strike, rebel attacks hit Nigerian oil output

Fri Apr 25, 2008 11:31am EDT
Tume Ahemba

LAGOS (Reuters) – A strike by workers and attacks by rebels have forced Nigeria’s two biggest oil firms, Exxon Mobil and Royal Dutch Shell, to shut in some production, keeping world oil prices near all-time highs on Friday.

Exxon Mobil (XOM.N: Quote, Profile, Research), Nigeria’s leading producer, started closing down its output because of a strike by workers over a labor dispute, with one union official saying 200,000 barrels per day of crude were already shut in. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

BP’s Forties Oil Pipeline to Shut on Refinery Closure

Bloomberg image of BP logo/sign

The BP company logo hangs outside a gas station in London, on March 4, 2008. Photographer: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg News

Bloomberg: BP’s Forties Oil Pipeline to Shut on Refinery Closure (Update4)

By Alexander Kwiatkowski

April 25 (Bloomberg) — BP Plc said it will start shutting the Forties Pipeline System tomorrow, cutting about 40 percent of the U.K.’s oil production, because of the closure of Ineos Group Holdings Plc’s Grangemouth refinery in Scotland.

“Preparations have begun for the shutdown of the Forties Pipeline System this weekend,” BP spokeswoman Joanne McDonald said in a telephone interview today. “There won’t be any throughput through Forties from Saturday night.” read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Email correspondence with former Shell International HSE Group Auditor Bill Campbell involving Royal Dutch Shell Plc Company Secretary Michiel Brandjes

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Email correspondence with former Shell International HSE Group Auditor Bill Campbell involving Royal Dutch Shell Plc Company Secretary Michiel Brandjes

Please note that the correspondence below is published without seeking prior approval from Mr Campbell. We accept responsibility for publication of his extremely blunt assessment of Shell EP Production Director, Mr Greg Hill.  

EMAIL FROM JOHN DONOVAN TO BILL CAMPBELL, COPIED TO MICHIEL BRANDJES

From: John Donovan
Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2008 09:05:44 +0100
To: “Cambell@
Cc: “michielbrandjes@
Conversation: Shell
Subject: Shell

Hello Bill

Welcome back to the UK. I trust your batteries are fully recharged. This is in response to your recent mails. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Strike forces Exxon Nigeria to start shutting output

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Reuters: Strike forces Exxon Nigeria to start shutting output

Fri Apr 25, 2008 12:28pm BST

LAGOS, April 25 (Reuters) – Exxon Mobil (XOM.N: Quote, Profile, Research) started closing down its oil output from Nigeria on Friday because of a strike by workers, with one union official saying 200,000 barrels per day of crude were already shut in.

“The entire company is on strike today. All output (from Exxon’s Nigerian oilfields) is affected,” an Exxon official, who asked not to be named, said. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

U.K. Tobacco Firms, Retailers including Shell Fixed Prices, OFT Says

Bloomberg: U.K. Tobacco Firms, Retailers Fixed Prices, OFT Says (Update3)

By Loveday Morris and Amy Wilson

April 25 (Bloomberg) — Tesco Plc, Imperial Tobacco Group Plc and eleven other companies were accused of fixing cigarette prices between 2000 and 2003 by the U.K.’s antitrust regulator, opening the first formal probe of tobacco sales.

The Office of Fair Trading said today it’s investigating whether 11 retailers and two manufacturers linked the price of tobacco brands made by competing companies. The regulator in London is also examining whether Imperial, Japan Tobacco Inc.’s Gallaher unit and five retailers shared information on prices. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Nigerian Militants Claim Attack on Shell Oil Pipeline (Update2)

Bloomberg: Nigerian Militants Claim Attack on Shell Oil Pipeline (Update2)

By Dulue Mbachu

April 25 (Bloomberg) — Armed militants fighting in Nigeria’s southern oil region said they sabotaged a pipeline belonging to Royal Dutch Shell Plc.

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta’s fighters blasted the oil pipeline at Kula in Rivers state at about 10:18 p.m. local time, according to an e-mailed statement from the group, known as MEND, received today in Lagos, the commercial capital. Precious Okolobo, Shell’s spokesman in Nigeria, has no information on the group’s claim and is trying to confirm the incident, he said in an interview today. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Oil Rises on BP Plan to Shut U.K. Pipeline, Nigeria Disruptions

Bloomberg: Oil Rises on BP Plan to Shut U.K. Pipeline, Nigeria Disruptions

By Grant Smith

April 25 (Bloomberg) — Crude oil prices rose as BP Plc prepared to shut down a North Sea pipeline that carries about 40 percent of the U.K.’s oil production and violence and strikes crimped output in Nigeria.

BP said it would shut the Forties Pipeline System from tomorrow evening because of a two-day strike at a refinery in Scotland. In Nigeria, Exxon Mobil Corp.’s unit began shutting production as workers went on strike, while armed militants sabotaged a pipeline belonging to Royal Dutch Shell Plc. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Nigeria rebels say attack Shell oil pipeline

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Reuters: Nigeria rebels say attack Shell oil pipeline

Fri Apr 25, 2008 10:01am BS

LAGOS, April 25 (Reuters) – Nigerian rebels said on Friday they had sabotaged an oil pipeline in the Niger Delta belonging to Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L: Quote, Profile, Research) late on Thursday, the latest in a series of attacks in the region.

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) said it had used explosives to attack the pipeline at Kula river in Rivers state.

There was no immediate independent confirmation of the attack. Shell had no immediate comment. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Armed Nigerian group confirms attack on Shell pipeline, warns of more sabotage

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Forbes: Armed Nigerian group confirms attack on Shell pipeline, warns of more sabotage

04.25.08, 6:33 AM ET

LAGOS (Thomson Financial) – The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), the main armed group in the south of Nigeria, confirmed on Friday it was responsible for the sabotage of a Royal Dutch Shell pipeline on Thursday, some four days after its initial attack on the oil major.

In a message to Agence France-Presse, MEND said it successfully attacked a pipeline run by Shell Petroleum Development (nasdaq: PETD – news – people ) Company on the Kula River in Rivers state on Thursday. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Royal Dutch Shell accused of price fixing again

Daily Telegraph: OFT to investigate supermarkets over cigarette price fixing

By Emma Henry and agencies
Last Updated: 7:17am BST 25/04/2008

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) is to investigate major supermarkets and tobacco manufacturers over alleged unlawful cigarette pricing.

In a statement, the OFT said it believed eleven retailers, including Tesco, Sainsbury and Asda, had engaged in anti-competitive pricing with manufacturers Imperial Tobacco and Gallaher.

John Fingleton, OFT Chief Executive, said: “For markets to work well for consumers, it is a fundamental principle that pricing decisions should be made independently. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

OFT launches probe into cigarette price-fixing: *Shell accused along with other retailers

Times Online: OFT launches probe into cigarette price-fixing

April 25, 2008
Angela Jameson

Smokers may have been overcharged for cigarettes after the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) accused two major tobacco companies and 11 retailers of alleged unlawful co-ordination of prices.

The OFT has issued a statement of objections detailing the charges against Gallaher, which makes Silk Cut and Benson & Hedges brands, and Imperial Tobacco, whose brands include Lambert & Butler and Embassy.

The retailers who have been issued with a statement of objections include all four major supermarket groups: Tesco, Sainsbury, Asda and Morrisons, as well as the Co-operative Group, off-licence group First Quench, Shell, Somerfield and convenience store groups T& S Stores and TM Retail. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Lawmakers Push Bush to Curb Oil Reserve

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: Lawmakers Push Bush to Curb Oil Reserve

By IAN TALLEY and COREY BOLES
April 25, 2008

WASHINGTON — Lawmakers cranked up pressure Thursday on the Bush administration to stop filling the nation’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve amid growing election-year anxiety on Capitol Hill about high gasoline prices.

Department of Energy officials have repeatedly said they would continue to fill the emergency reserve under the royalty-in-kind program, which accepts oil from companies in lieu of cash, at a rate of 76,000 barrels a day. They also said they would still consider soliciting bids for a further addition to replace oil sold during the 2005 hurricane season. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

EDS Posts 62% Profit Drop, But Its New Bookings Surge

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: EDS Posts 62% Profit Drop, But Its New Bookings Surge

By JIM CARLTON
April 25, 2008

Electronic Data Systems Corp. said first-quarter earnings fell 62%, yet bookings jumped for the technology-services giant amid a rush of business in a down economy.

EDS appeared to benefit from a tendency of companies seeking greater efficiency in tough economic times by outsourcing some or all of their technology operations. The Plano, Texas, company said it had signed $5.6 billion in contracts in the quarter — up 66% from the same time last year — including a dozen deals of more than $100 million each. Two of the wins were billion-dollar orders from energy giant Royal Dutch Shell PLC and Singapore’s government. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Big oil boosts buy-backs in absence of new investments

Financial Times: Big oil boosts buy-backs in absence of new investments

By Sheila McNulty in Houston
Published: April 25 2008 03:00 | Last updated: April 25 2008 03:00

Rising nationalism, insufficient talent and scarce supplies are limiting investment opportunities for the world’s major oil companies, leading them to increase share buybacks, said Jim Mulva, chief executive of ConocoPhillips.

Conoco, the US’s third largest oil company, budgets $15bn a year on capital spending. “We, technically, could be spending more,” Mr Mulva said in an interview. “But we have a number of issues or concerns.” read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Struggling’ oil industry claims it will be destroyed by EU climate measures

Financial Times: Letters: Struggling’ oil industry claims it will be destroyed by EU climate measures

Published: April 25 2008 03:00 | Last updated: April 25 2008 03:00
From Mr Jos Dings.

Sir, European Union officials must be getting used to the familiar refrain they hear every time an industry sector is asked to cut carbon emissions. But when the latest industry to claim it will be “destroyed” by a flagship European climate policy also happens to be one of the richest and most influential, its arguments warrant a closer look. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

BP plans to invest $560m in biofuels

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Financial Times: BP plans to invest $560m in biofuels

By Jonathan Wheatley in São Paulo and Ed Crooks in London
Published: April 24 2008 19:09 | Last updated: April 24 2008 19:09

BP announced plans to invest $560m in biofuels on Thursday and argued that its proposals to develop ethanol production from sugar cane in Brazil would not affect food supplies.

The oil group plans to spend $60m buying a 50 per cent stake in a Brazilian joint venture and invest a further $500m in two ethanol refineries. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

New Contracts Lift Results at Electronic Data

THE NEW YORK TIMES: New Contracts Lift Results at Electronic Data

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: April 25, 2008

DALLAS (AP) — The information technology services company Electronic Data Systems Corporation posted better-than-expected first-quarter profit and sales Thursday, driven by its best quarter for new contracts since 2002.

Results beat analysts’ expectations that were lowered after the company issued a warning in February, and its stock rose $1.53, or 8 percent, to $19.96 a share.

Electronic Data, which is based in Plano, Tex., said it earned $62 million, or 12 cents a share, down from $164 million, or 31 cents a share, a year earlier. The 2007 period included a one-time gain of $100 million related to a contract termination fee from Verizon Communications. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.