Residents of two Nigerian communities who are taking legal action against Shell and a local subsidiary over oil pollution are set to take their cases to trial at the high court in 2027.
Members of the Bille and Ogale communities in the Niger delta, which have a combined population of about 50,000, began the legal action in 2015, claiming they had suffered systemic and ongoing oil pollution for years due to the companies' operations in the African country, including the pollution of drinking water. They are seeking compensation and asking for the companies to clean up damage caused by the spills. The companies are defending the claims, saying that the majority of spills are caused by the criminal acts of third parties or illegal oil refining, for which they are not liable.
Mrs Justice May ruled on more than 20 preliminary issues in the claims after a hearing held in London over four weeks in February and March. Her findings included that Shell could be sued for damage from pipeline spills caused by third parties, such as vandals, in efforts to steal oil, a process known as bunkering. She also said that, while there was a five-year limitation period on bringing legal claims, a “new cause of action will arise each day that oil remains” on land affected by the spills.
The cases are due to be tried over four months, starting in March 2027.
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