February 19th, 2014:
Royal Dutch Shell Plc has sold its downstream Australian assets
House Of Reps Cancel $1.1bn Malabu Oil Deal
Daily Times of Nigeria article by Ugochukwu Onyeocha: 19 Feb 2014
The Nigerian House of Representatives on Tuesday in Abuja, ordered the immediate cancellation of the fraudulent sale of a lucrative oil bloc OPL 245 to oil firms, Shell and Agip, in a shady deal facilitated with the payment of $1.1 billion (about N165 billion) to a convicted former petroleum minister, Dan Etete.
Woodside may ditch Shell stake
Melbourne Herald Sun Article by John Dagge: 19 Feb 2014
WOODSIDE Petroleum says it has not consulted major shareholder Shell about its foray into Israel — an international push which analysts say complicates the oil giant’s relations with key Arabic customers. Woodside’s move to take a slice of Israel’s Leviathan field — one of the largest offshore gas finds of the past decade — has raised speculation Shell will look to offload its 23 per cent stake in the company to avoid conflicts with major oil producers. Key oil producers and Shell clients, such as Saudi Arabia, have a trading and investment boycott on Israel.
Major oilsands project put on hold by Shell
JOURNAL of COMMERCE Article by Richard Gilbert: 19 Feb 2014
Royal Dutch Shell has asked federal regulators to halt the environmental assessment for a proposed mine in northeastern Alberta, as part of a plan to re-evaluate the timing of developments. The proposed PRM project involves the construction of an oilsands surface mine and bitumen extraction facilities, which would be located about 90 km north of Fort McMurray on the west side of the Athabasca River.
Shell refinery sale puts 500 jobs at risk in Victoria
THE GUARDIAN: Article by Martin Farrer: Wed 19 Feb 2014
Victoria faces another blow to its economy after Royal Dutch Shell reportedly sold Geelong refinery, putting 500 jobs at risk. The oil major sold the asset and its Australian petrol stations to Dutch-owned oil trader Vitol and the Abu Dhabi Investment Council for about $2.4bn, Fairfax Media reports. It is believed that Vitol, the world’s largest oil trader, has earmarked the 60-year-old refinery for closure…
Australia: Shell sells local assets for $2.4bn: report
THE AUSTRALIAN: FEBRUARY 19, 2014
ROYAL Dutch Shell has sold its downstream assets in Australia, including petrol stations and its Geelong refinery to Vitol for an estimated $2.4 billion, Fairfax Media reports. Last month, Shell sold stakes in a gas project in Western Australia for $1.14 billion as part of the oil company’s drive to improve its return on investment. It is understood Vitol, the world’s largest oil trader, plans to shut down Shell’s Geelong refinery…
Campaign to Replace Irish Police Ombudsman
Despite the Corrib Gas dispute being the single largest source of Garda complaints that GSOC have had to deal with, no Garda has ever been held to account for their law-breaking and abuse of powers. In March 2013 the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders Margaret Sekaggya, called on the Irish Government to “Investigate all allegation and reports of intimidation, harassment and surveillance in the context of the Corrib Gas dispute in a prompt and impartial manner”.
Shell to Sea repeats call to dissolve GSOC and to establish a proper oversight body
News release – Issued by Shell to Sea – Tuesday 18th February 2014
Shell to Sea has today repeated calls that it has made previously, that the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) be dissolved so that a new functioning Garda oversight body can be established. Shell to Sea believe that it is impossible for GSOC to operate as a functioning Garda oversight body due to the flawed nature of its founding legislation. Former GSOC Commissioner Conor Brady has stated that he too believes the Garda Síochána Act 2005 “was fundamentally flawed”. [1]