Shell takes unique legal approach to environmentalists

Shell has sued more than a dozen environmental groups in an attempt to beat them to the court, as the oil giant fears adverse legal action could delay offshore drilling in the Arctic.

The unique legal move is thought to be an attempt to beat the groups to court and is said to be the first time such legal action has happened in the oil industry.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the global oil group has filed several law suits in the US District Court in Anchorage in an attempt to oust environmentalist groups before they can initiate legal action themselves. Shell has already spent $4 billion on the project but has not yet started drilling.

It is estimated that around 30 per cent of the world’s undiscovered gas and 13 per cent of its undiscovered oil may be in the Arctic, based on figures carried out by the US Geological Survey (USGS). There are several countries competing over the reserves, such as Russia, US, Canada, Denmark and Norway.

Shell’s headquarters in the Netherlands have been targeted among others. The National Audubon Society, the Sierra Club and Greenpeace, which last week sent six activists, including the actress Lucy Lawless, to protest aboard an oil rig in New Zealand sparked Shell into seeking damages for their actions.

Shell spokeswoman Kelly op de Weegh told the LA Times: “This is a very unique legal approach. I’m not sure anything like this has ever been done before.”

Published by Claire Manning