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June, 2014:

Is it safe to disclose ideas to Shell GameChanger?

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Screen Shot 2014-04-16 at 08.20.27By John Donovan

On 4 June I wrote to Shell GameChanger advising I had been contacted by a gentlemen who claims to have disclosed a variety of potentially highly lucrative innovative ideas to Shell GameChanger over more than 15 years.

The person in question who does not wish to disclose his identity at the moment has made a number of allegations and supplied examples of his email correspondence with Shell GameChanger as proof that he has been in contact with the organisation.

I supplied Shell with examples of his email correspondence with Shell GameChanger.  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 Giant Shell Kicks Off Hunt For New Chair

Screen Shot 2014-06-07 at 14.37.49Extract from a SkyNews article by its City Editor, Mark Kleinman, published Saturday 7 June 2014 

Royal Dutch Shell, the biggest company on London’s stock market, has kicked off the hunt for a new chairman. Sky News has learnt that the oil giant has asked Egon Zehnder International, the executive search firm, to identify a successor to Jorma Ollila, who is expected to step down next year. The leadership transition will represent another important moment for Shell, with Mr Ollila having taken over as chairman in 2006 in the wake of a scandal which involved the company dramatically overstating its reserves. 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.

Garda Ombudsman Investigation of Shell Corruption allegations in disarray

Screen Shot 2014-02-21 at 16.11.57By John Donovan 

The investigation of allegations made by a Shell whistleblower company OSSL, of alleged Shell sponsored corruption of the Irish police, appears to be in a shambles following ill-judged on-the-record comments by the officer leading the inquiry, Johan Groenewald.

The relevant extraordinary email correspondence with me can be viewed here.

In the exchanges, which became heated on his part, Mr Groenewald denounced OSSL as being untrustworthy, rubbished and disregarded vital evidence, issued a threat against me and denied that he tore up (and has apparently disregarded) statements given to a senior Garda officer by OSSL directors. At some point he seems to have lost his impartiality.  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.

Threat by GSOC officer leading investigation of Shell/Irish Police Corruption allegations

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  • Threat against John Donovan by officer leading Garda Ombudsman investigation of Shell/Irish Police Corruption allegations – Mr Johan Groenewald. 
  • Warning by Mr Groenewald about honesty of OSSL before he has even announced the result of his impartial investigation
  • Denial by Mr Groenewald that he tore up OSSL statements
  • As a result of revelations in the extraordinary email correspondence below, some Irish citizens may have reservations about his competence, impartiality, judgement, and plain common-sense to lead such an investigation
  • Some may conclude that due to his disregard of evidence, he has destroyed the credibility of his findings before they have even been published.

By John Donovan

I sent an email earlier this week to Johan Groenewald, the officer in charge of the Garda Ombudsman (GSOC) investigation into OSSL allegations of Irish police corruption sponsored by Shell, relating to the controversial Corrib Gas Project.

I did not anticipate any response because Mr Groenewald had indicated through OSSL that he did not want to receive any emails from me.

Against expectations,  he did respond and has since engaged in a flurry of email correspondence with me, the tone of which was initially constructive and polite, but deteriorated earlier today when he resorted to issuing a threat and then sent a parting email message, before blocking my emails so I could not reply. 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.

Greenpeace Arctic Sunrise: Russia ‘frees protest ship’

Extract from a BBC News article published 6 June 2014

Russian authorities have released the Greenpeace ship seized after a protest against oil drilling in the Arctic last year, the environmental group says.

The Arctic Sunrise, which had been held in the port of Murmansk, is back in the hands of campaigners, Greenpeace said.

FULL ARTICLE

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 Plc Struggling For Growth?

Screen Shot 2014-01-30 at 00.47.49Extracts from an Interactive Investor/Motley Fool article published Friday 6 June 2014 under the headline: “BP plc vs Royal Dutch Shell Plc: Which Wins On Income And Growth?Unfortunately, Shell’s growth plans for growth look to be disappointing compared to those of BP.”

Shell has committed itself to $15bn of divestments during the next few years in an attempt to prune its portfolio. Many analysts have questioned whether or not this will be enough.

Additionally, Shell has promised to turn around the fortunes of its North American business, which is losing money, despite the fact that over $80bn of capital is employed in the region — based on 2013 figures.

Actually, in total, Shell’s assets amount to $352bn at current exchange rates, indicating that nearly 30% of Shell’s assets are achieving a negative return, a terrible return on investment for one of the world’s largest oil and gas companies. 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.

Shell Centre approval is a catastrophe

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SQUIRE AND PARTNERS’ SHELL CENTRE MASTERPLAN

Extract from a bdonline.co.uk article by Ike Ijeh published Friday 6 June 2014

This morning the Secretary of State approved controversial redevelopment plans for London’s Shell Centre. While this is a tragic day for everybody who, as I do, loves this city, it sadly comes as absolutely no surprise. Ever since John Prescott’s one-finger salute to the capital in the shape of the Vauxhall Tower, planning inquiry after planning inquiry has found in favour of the developer. 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.

Report finds nations are woefully unprepared for Arctic oil spills

Screen Shot 2014-04-04 at 09.49.25Extract from a PRI Public Radio International article by Adam Wernick published Friday Friday 6 June 

Back in January, Royal Dutch Shell announced it was abandoning plans to drill for oil in the Arctic waters near Alaska. It was the second time in two years the company was forced to postpone plans to drill in the region. Given the difficulties the company has faced — including losses of about $6 billion dollars — and the continuing geopolitical and environmental battles surrounding the practice, the question arises: Is it even worth the trouble? Now, a new report from the National Research Council casts even more doubt on the wisdom of Arctic drilling. The report warns that the region is still so dangerous and isolated that the nations involved don’t have the proper equipment, infrastructure or personnel in place to deal with a potential oil spill. 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.

Report: Exxon May Take Over as Kashagan Operator

Screen Shot 2014-04-06 at 21.01.34Extract from a Reuters/Rigzone article by Dmitry Zhdannikov, published Friday 6 June 2014

LONDON, June 6 (Reuters) – U.S. oil major Exxon Mobil is in line to take over as operator of the giant Kashagan field in an attempt to fix the beleaguered $50 billion project offshore Kazakhstan, industry publication Nefte Compass reported on Friday. The Kashagan shareholders are Eni, Exxon Mobil, Royal Dutch Shell, France’s Total and Kazakh state oil company Kazmunaigas, each with 16.8 percent, and Japan’s Inpex and China National Petroleum Corp. (CNPC) as junior partners.

FULL ARTICLE

RELATED ARTICLE

Kashagan Appoints Exxon Executive To Run Troubled Oil Venture

ALMATY, June 6 (Reuters) – The troubled Kashagan oil development has named an executive from U.S. firm Exxon Mobil to run the venture while also streamlining its complicated structure in an attempt to fix the beleaguered $50 billion project offshore Kazakhstan. The group said on Friday Stephane de Mahieu, an Exxon secondee, had become managing director as of May 1, 2014. However, it denied a report in industry publication Nefte Compass that Exxon would take over as operator of Kashagan saying that instead all seven oil firms involved will be effectively operators through a rejigged venture. 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 Changes Rules, So Now What? (Part 2)

Screen Shot 2014-02-10 at 16.29.29Extract from a SeekingAlpha.com article by Mike Nadel published 6 June 2014

Two weeks ago, Royal Dutch Shell changed the rules for shareholders who reinvest dividends. As I said in Part 1, “I wasn’t exactly thrilled.” Now that a little time has passed, however, I realize this “Shell game” actually was a good thing because it made me thoroughly examine whether the company belonged in our portfolio. And upon close examination of Royal Dutch Shell, I’m confident we can do better. 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.

Shell Centre development approved by Eric Pickles

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Communities secretary Eric Pickles has given the green light to the controversial redevelopment of the Shell Centre on the South Bank.

FULL ARTICLE

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.

Noble Discoverer headed to Singapore

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Shell workers scramble to the beach in Dutch Harbor to assess the situation with the drilling ship Noble Discoverer when it went aground while on Arctic assignment. One of the many incidents that destroyed Shell’s reputation and severely delayed its Arctic/Alaska offshore drilling plans. 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, Anadarko may face billions in fines after spill ruling

Screen Shot 2014-05-22 at 13.24.30Extract from a World Oil News Center article by Margaret Cronin Fisk published 5 June 2014

THE WOODLANDS, Texas (Bloomberg) — BP and Anadarko Petroleum could face billions of dollars in fines after an appeals court ruled they were automatically liable for pollution-law violations as co-owners of the well that blew out and started the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill. The U.S. Court of Appeals in New Orleans on June 4 upheld a lower-court decision that allows the U.S. to seek a maximum fine from London-based BP of $18 billion if it’s found grossly negligent for its actions surrounding the spill. Anadarko, which owned a 25% interest in the well, is facing a maximum penalty of $4.6 billion. 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.

NAM Groningen: A Gas Cache, Now Under Shaky Ground

Screen Shot 2014-06-05 at 10.47.36Extract from a New York Times article by Stanley Reed published in print on 5 June 2014

LOPPERSUM, the Netherlands — Deep below the cow pastures and farming villages in this picturesque northeastern corner of the Netherlands lies an extraordinary resource: Europe’s largest source of natural gas, known as the Groningen gas field. But as it enters old age, Groningen has grown cranky. A half-century of extraction has reduced the field’s natural pressure in recent years, and seismic shifts from geological settling have set off increasingly frequent earthquakes — more than 120 last year, and at least 40 this year. Though most of the tremors have been small, and resulted in no reported deaths or serious injuries, they have caused widespread damage to buildings, endangered nearby dikes and frightened and angered local residents. In light of those problems, the Dutch government is now demanding that the field’s operator, *a joint venture of Royal Dutch Shell and Exxon Mobil, curtail production… 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.

Shell Explosion Damage ‘Significant’

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Screen Shot 2014-02-10 at 16.29.29Extract from an article by Maxime Zech published 5 June 2014 by NLTimes.nl

The damage left after the explosion of a reactor and subsequent fire at the Shell site in Moerdijk are “significant”, according to Shell Moerdijk director Paul Buijsingh. There may be millions of euros in damage. Buijsingh is expecting that the recovery will take a long time. Mayor of Moerdijk, Jac Klijs, said at a press conference that there was no need to sound the air-raid warning. “We knew quickly what was in the air, that was dangerous substances. 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.

Explosions and fire at Dutch Shell plant

Screen Shot 2014-02-10 at 16.29.29Extracts from a BBC News report 3 June 2014 – last updated 23.29

A large fire has broken out at a Shell chemical plant in the Netherlands following a series of explosions, reports say.

Television footage showed flames and smoke pouring from the plant in Moerdijk, south of Rotterdam.

It is not known if there are any casualties and the cause of the blasts was not clear.

Local media said the explosions could be heard several miles away…

FULL ARTICLE

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 Blaze at Shell Chemical Plant in Netherlands

Screen Shot 2014-02-10 at 16.29.29Extract from an abcNews report published 4 June 2014

A major fire broke out late Tuesday at a chemical plant operated by oil giant Royal Dutch Shell near the port city of Rotterdam, Dutch emergency services said. Shell spokesman Thijs van Velzen later said that two people suffered minor injuries. “All the people that were present are safe,” he added.

FULL ARTICLE

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.

Esther Kiobel castigates UK and Dutch joint intervention in U.S. Supreme Court Case

Esther Kiobel of Kiobel-v-Shell fame speaking at an Amnesty International Event

By John Donovan

Amnesty International published an article in April 2014 revealing that the British government had intervened on the side of Royal Dutch Shell in the Kiobel-v-Shell case before the U.S. Supreme Court  and had done so after being lobbied by Shell. A related document obtained in response to a Freedom of Information request confirmed that the Dutch government joined Shell in the representations made to the U.S. Supreme Court. Seems safe to assume that Shell also made representations to the Dutch 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.

Ukraine Crisis Forces Shell to Halt Shale Wells in Restive East

Screen Shot 2014-02-10 at 16.29.29Extract from a Bloomberg/Businessweek article by Ladka Bauerova and Will Kennedy published 3 June 2014

Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSA) has halted drilling for shale gas in eastern Ukraine to protect its personnel from clashes between pro-Russian separatists and the Ukrainian army. Shell is taking a “time-out” on exploration work after drilling two wells since the Hague-based explorer signed a production-sharing agreement last year, Chief Financial Officer Simon Henry said in an interview with Bloomberg TV in London.  “We obviously need to assess the future security situation as it develops because the safety of our own people is our first priority,” Henry said. “There’s no pulling out, but we take a time out on the actual drilling activity on the ground.” 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 and Shell urged to stop using shareholders’ money to fund libertarian lobby group

Screen Shot 2014-01-30 at 00.47.49Extract from a This is Money/Daily Mail article by Rob Davies published 2 June 2014

BP and Shell have been urged to stop using shareholders’ money to fund a US lobby group that promotes looser gun laws and the teaching of climate change denial in schools. The oil firms are members of the secretive American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), which greases the wheels of communication between politicians and corporate interests. BP and Shell remain member-donors, prompting criticism from investment institutions who say use of shareholders’ money to fund ALEC is opaque and improper. 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.

Irish Corruption Scandal: OSSL Cessation of hostilities

Screen Shot 2013-09-18 at 13.41.10By John Donovan

Last month I supplied OSSL directors with admittance passes for the Royal Dutch Shell AGM in The Hague.

I have already published a transcript of the resultant interesting public discussion between Desmond Kane for OSSL (above right) and the two top people at Shell, its CEO Ben van Beurden and Chairman Jorma Ollila.

Since then, the one way barrage of emails from OSSL to various parties, Shell, the Irish Police Commissioner, the Irish Justice Minister, Roadbridge, the Police Ombudsman, etc – all copied to me – seems to have ceased. 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.

The most Bilderbergian company of all, Shell Oil

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Bilderberg critics are often labelled conspiracy theorists, particularly due to beliefs that the meeting is a sinister attempt by the global elite to concentrate power and establish a global government. (Source)

Screen Shot 2014-02-10 at 16.29.29Extract from a Guardian article by Charlie Skelton published 2 June 2014 under the headline: Bilderberg 2014: George Osborne and the man at the centre of everything

After wrapping up his career in public service, Kerr hopped gracefully into the City, and was until recently deputy chairman of the most Bilderbergian company of all, Shell Oil.  Half diplomat, half corporate creature, Sir John is the ultimate behind-the-scenes powerbroker – a barely visible fixer, in whom the public and private spheres are perfectly melded. He’s Bilderberg incarnate.

RELATED ARTICLES

The confidential nature of Bilderberg led to criticism of the group’s lack of transparency and accountability, along with concerns about potential lobbying. There has also been speculation from conspiracy theorists about the purpose of the meetings. The secretive approach to staging the conferences has led to the younger generation of Bilderberg attendees being uncomfortable with the policy of total media exclusion. SOURCE

The recent secretive and controversial Bilderberg Conference attended by Ben van Beurden and Jorma Ollila. 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.

Shell chief to visit Nigeria in effort to clean up oil spills

Screen Shot 2014-04-06 at 21.07.42Extract from a Guardian article by Terry Macalister published Sunday 1 June 2014

Ben van Beurden, the chief executive of Shell, will go to Nigeria this week to try to restore his firm’s tarnished reputation by winning local support for a clean-up strategy to tackle old oil spills in the Delta.

FULL ARTICLE

(c) Guardian News & Media Ltd

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.

‘The Secret World of Oil’, by Ken Silverstein

Extract from a Financial Times book review by Guy Chazan published 1 June 2014: ‘The Secret World of Oil’, by Ken Silverstein

There have been more violations of the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act by energy companies than by any other kind of business, including weapons trading. Yet western countries, so reliant on crude exports from countries with oft-criticised regimes, often seem to lack the will to tackle the problem.

FULL FT ARTICLE

ON AMAZON

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.

Diminishing Shell in Australia

Screen Shot 2013-12-10 at 09.33.03Extracts from a Sydney Morning Herald article by Michael West published 2 June 2014 under the headline: “Is petrol producer an empty Shell?”

Suffice to say that Shell has contributed to the Australian economy in a big way over the years. Not quite so big any more, though. Shell Australia has become less an Australian company now than a figurine for its foreign parent. One corollary of this is that it is paying less tax. Shell, like other large corporations, is mimicking the aggressive tax practices of Google and the multinational new guard, and the implications for Australia’s tax base are menacing. If you look at Shell’s website, you will find that it calls itself Shell in Australia. It used to be Shell Australia. The word ‘‘in’’ is a small word but powerfully redolent of what has changed. This is no longer an Australian company in mind and management. 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.

SEC urged to tackle foreign payment disclosure in oil and gas

Screen Shot 2014-03-10 at 23.56.16Extract from an Financial Times article by Gina Chon published 1 June 2014

The US Securities and Exchange Commission is under growing pressure to tackle the issue of how oil and gas companies disclose payments to foreign governments. Royal Dutch Shell, ExxonMobil, several US senators and aid organisation Oxfam America have urged the agency to write new disclosure rules this year.

FULL FT ARTICLE

RELATED ARTICLE CONTAINING JOINT ROYAL DUTCH SHELL/EXXON-MOBIL LETTER TO THE SEC

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.