Reuters Staff: Tuesday 29 May 2018

LONDON (Reuters) – Friends of the Earth plans to file a lawsuit against Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L), accusing the oil company of failing to act on climate change, the environmental activist group said on Tuesday.

Shell has set out “ambitions” to halve carbon emissions by 2050 and expand in renewables, but the Anglo-Dutch company has come under pressure from investors and activists to reduce its carbon footprint and comply with the 2015 international Paris climate agreement. read more

09/12/16 

ROYAL DUTCH SHELL PLC

COMPANY SECRETARY CHANGE

Royal Dutch Shell plc announces the appointment of Linda Szymanski as Company Secretary with effect from January 1, 2017. Ms Szymanski succeeds Michiel Brandjes who retires at the end of the year after 36 years of service with the Shell group, of which 13 years was as General Counsel Corporate and Company Secretary.

NOTE

Linda Szymanski (right) is a US national. She was appointed General Counsel Corporate with effect from August 1, 2016 and will continue in this role upon her appointment as Company Secretary. Prior to her appointment as General Counsel Corporate, she served as General Counsel of the Upstream Americas business based in the USA and, prior to that, as the  Group Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer based in the Netherlands. She has held various legal positions within Shell Oil Company, including Chemicals Legal Managing Counsel and other senior roles in the labour/employment, litigation, and commercial practice areas. read more

By MARK WILLIAMSON: 8 June 2016

ROYAL Dutch Shell has given a further signal it will retreat from the North Sea as the company said it will continue with deep cuts in spending amid the crude price plunge.

Chief executive Ben van Beurden said the oil and gas giant will focus investment on the kind of big fields which will generate high returns over the long term and which the company has made clear are in short supply in the North Sea.

Shell is investing heavily in two giant fields West of Shetland with BP, which are due to come onstream in coming months and could be in production for years, but has nothing similar in the pipeline. read more

Astonishingly, none of these Shell officials, nor John Gilligan, Alan Shatter, or anyone else in the Irish government, police, or any oversight body, has asked me to supply the voluminous evidence. No one seems shocked, or even interested. There have been no denials issued, nor have I received any threats of litigation, as could be anticipated if the allegations were without foundation. This seems to be a rotten state of affairs? I am now beginning to wonder if Shell has bought the whole Irish Establishment?

EMAIL SENT BY JOHN DONOVAN TO EVERY MEMBER OF THE IRISH PARLIAMENT (THE DAIL)

From: John Donovan <[email protected]>
Subject: SHELL INDUSTRIAL SCALE CORRUPTION OF THE IRISH POLICE
Date: 6 May 2013 15:32:09 GMT+01:00
To: [email protected]

Irish Police corruption, booze and violence sponsored by Shell

Dear Mr Shane Ross TD

I am writing to you and all other members of the Dail on an exceptional basis concerning a matter that should be a cause of great concern.

I sent an email to your Justice Minister Mr Alan Shatter over a month ago concerning alleged widespread corruption of the Garda by Shell E&P Ireland.

Mr Shatter is aware that I have in my possession a vast array of what I believe to be related authentic documents and correspondence.  It includes an invoice from a small firm – The OSSL Company – to Shell E&P Ireland for over 35,000 euros (plus VAT) spent on the procurement of alcohol distributed to the Garda by OSSL, on behalf of its long time client, Shell. read more

“…Shell funded alcohol was allegedly distributed to the Police, a gift not conducive to the well-being, safety and demeanor of police officers. The booze was allegedly delivered to senior on duty officers, with delivery being made at Police premises in one instance.”: “Some of the wording on the purported invoice seems strangely reminiscent of the prohibition era in the USA. Somebody trying to conceal the illicit transportation of alcohol.”

EMAIL DATED 15 April 2013 FROM JOHN DONOVAN TO LINDA SZYMANSKI, ROYAL DUTCH SHELL PLC CHIEF ETHICS AND COMPLIANCE OFFICER.

Dear Linda Szymanski

I sent emails to you on 28 March 2013 and 29 March 2013 (also copied to Michiel Brandjes) concerning allegations made by a former Shell supplier OSSL, that Shell E&P Ireland has engaged in widespread corruption of the Irish Police force. According to OSSL and the related purported invoice dated 28 August 2012, Shell funded alcohol was allegedly distributed to the Police, a gift not conducive to the well-being, safety and demeanor of police officers. The booze was allegedly delivered to senior on duty officers, with delivery being made at Police premises in one instance. read more

OSSL allege that acting on Shell’s instructions, OSSL has distributed bribes on Shell’s behalf to parties connected with the project, including the Irish police force (the Garda) who have been the subject of serious accusations of wrong doing by environmental activists protesting against the project. The main accusation being that the Garda has acted as an offshoot of Shell security.

EMAIL DATED 29 MARCH 2013 FROM JOHN DONOVAN TO LINDA SZYMANSKI, ROYAL DUTCH SHELL PLC CHIEF ETHICS AND COMPLIANCE OFFICER.

From: John Donovan <[email protected]>
Subject: OSSL, SHELL AND ALLEGED CORRUPTION
Date: 29 March 2013 16:48:36 GMT
To: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected]

Dear Ms Szymanski

As you may be aware from our Shell Blog, a question mark has been raised over the authenticity of the alleged OSSL invoice to Shell dated 24 August 2012. My own reservations were plain from the email I sent to you yesterday.

Shell Accused of Corrupting Irish Police Force

At 11.25 this morning, we asked our contact acting for OSSL to scan company documents, original letters and purchase orders from Shell to prove the existence of OSSL and the fact that it had a business relationship with Shell EP Ireland. read more

“…THE SHELL GENERAL BUSINESS PRINCIPLES ARE A BEDROCK OF OUR SUCCESS, THROUGH TOUGH TIMES AND GOOD TIMES”: PETER VOSER, CEO

The business principles have evolved over time with updates in 1984, 1988, 1990, 1994, 1997 and 2005.

Vickers says:

“Our Business Principles are dynamic and continually reflect the world outside. So, in the late 1980s and early 1990s, as the world become more aware of, and concerned by, issues around sustainability we adapted our principles accordingly. Equally, in 2005 after the collapse of Enron, we amended the principles to include strengthening compliance.”

Today, the Shell General Business Principles is an eight-page document in which the eight principles are outlined. They cover the following areas: economic; competition; business integrity; political activities;  health, safety, security and the environment; local communities; communication and engagement; and compliance. They are all underpinned by the core values of honesty, integrity and respect for people. read more