Shell Petroleum Development Co. of Nigeria Ltd. (SPDC) has proposed to return to the Ogoni area of Nigeria if it has the agreement of local communities to guarantee the safety of its workers.
Brian Anderson, managing director of the Royal Dutch/Shell unit, said, "These proposals are offered in the spirit of reconciliation. All we need to start the process is the assurance of all Ogoni communities that our staff can work safely in Ogoniland.
"The Ogoni dispute has been characterized by a continuing circle of accusations and recriminations, and we want to help break that circle. Making impossible demands on Shell or ignoring the grievances of the Ogonis is not the answer. We need to find solutions."
Shell found itself the target of widespread protests last year after Nigeria's military rulers executed nine government protesters from Ogoniland who also had campaigned against Shell operations.
The executions were the high point in a bitter dispute in which Shell's relationship with government has been questioned and the company has accused government of returning too little of its oil revenues to local communities (OGJ, Apr. 22, p. 34).
What's next
Shell said the first priority in Ogoniland will be to clean up all oil spills, whether or not due to sabotage, that have occurred since it withdrew its staff in 1993. It also will make sure all facilities are safe.
At the same time, Shell said, it will begin to revive community projects where necessary and take over their maintenance to ensure they remain in good condition.
"The priority is to tackle problems facing the Ogoni people where SPDC can help, rather than to restart production. When SPDC withdrew from Ogoniland, production from the area was some 28,000 b/d, which represented about 3% of SPDC's total production."
Anderson said the proposal is offered for discussion with Ogoni communities and the Rivers state government: "It is vital that we have the support of the communities in which we work. That is why we are adamant that we will not work behind a security shield and why we made it quite clear we will not go back until we are welcomed by all the Ogoni people."
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