Shell accepts blame for Nigeria oil spills

Water/wastewater

Shell accepts blame for Nigeria oil spills

03 Aug, 2011

Published over 14 years ago. See the latest and most current information on Water/wastewater.

Shell has reportedly accepted the blame for two oil leaks that significantly damaged the water quality of part of the Niger Delta.

The two huge spills occurred in 2008 and no attempt has yet been made to clear up the mess, the Guardian reports.

According to the publication, it has seen papers relating to a four-month case, which ultimately reveal that the oil giant has now admitted its liability.

While Shell is adamant that only 40,000 gallons of commodity has polluted Bodo, experts have suggested that the spill could be as bad as the 1989 Alaska disaster, which saw ten million gallons of oil devastate the area.

It is thought that the clean-up process in Africa could take as long as 20 years and Shell is facing the prospect of hefty fines.

This comes shortly after BP announced it was planning to introduce a number of measures to boost the safety and efficiency of its drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, following the high profile spill in the area in 2010.

Posted by Lauren Steadman

IET 36.2 Mar/Apr 2026

Explore our Digital Edition

Discover the latest news and research

Digital edition

Explore Our Other Sites

Labmate Online
Metabolic disease tied to cognitive impairment in bipolar disorder
Explore more Arrow
Pollution Solutions Online
Next-generation reverse osmosis membranes for more efficient and cost-effective seawater desalination
Explore more Arrow
Petro Online
Free webinar: enhancing accuracy and efficiency in renewable fuel laboratory testing
Explore more Arrow
Chromatography Today
Chromatography and XFEL imaging reveal critical point behind water’s behaviour
Explore more Arrow