Shell accepts blame for Nigeria oil spills

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