Shell sues Greenpeace for R$10 million after protest – 11/09/2023 – Environment

Shell is suing Greenpeace for US$2.1 million (R$10.2 million) in damages after activists from the environmental group boarded the company’s oil production ship this year, according to the NGO and a document seen by Reuters news agency.

The British oil and gas giant filed the lawsuit in London’s High Court. In January, Greenpeace activists boarded the ship, which was transiting at sea near the Canary Islands in North Africa, to protest oil drilling and traveled to Norway.

In an email to Reuters, Shell confirmed legal proceedings were taking place when asked whether it was suing Greenpeace over the incident, but declined to comment on the value of the claim.

Boarding a ship moving at sea was “illegal and extremely dangerous”, a Shell spokesman said. “The right to protest is fundamental and we absolutely respect it. But it must be done safely and legally,” the spokesperson said.

The ship’s destination was the Penguins oil and gas field in the North Sea, which is not yet in production.

Four Greenpeace activists used ropes to hoist themselves onto the ship from inflatable boats, in which they chased the ship at high speed. Protests at sea against oil, gas or mining infrastructure have long been part of Greenpeace’s operations.

The damages for which Shell is seeking compensation include costs related to shipping delays and additional security expenses, as well as legal costs, according to a document seen by Reuters.

“This action is one of the biggest legal threats to the Greenpeace network’s ability to campaign in the organization’s more than 50-year history,” Greenpeace said in a statement.

The group said Shell has offered to reduce its damage claim to $1.4 million if Greenpeace activists agree not to protest again at any of Shell’s offshore oil and gas infrastructure. or moored.

Greenpeace said it would only do so if Shell complied with a 2021 Dutch court order to reduce its emissions by 45% by 2030, which Shell has appealed.

A claim for additional damages of around US$6.5 million (R$31.8 million) by one of Shell’s contractors, Fluor, is unresolved, according to the document seen by Reuters. Fluor did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Shell and Greenpeace have held negotiations since the case was filed, but talks ended in early November, the NGO said, adding that it is now waiting for the oil company to present further documents in court.

Greenpeace said it would only then consider its next steps, including ways to stop the case from proceeding.