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October, 2004:

The Age (Australia): Shell told to clean up oil leaks

The Age (Australia): Shell told to clean up oil leaks

“The EPA has issued a soil and groundwater clean-up notice against Shell, warning that oil leaking from the company’s Corio refinery is threatening Corio Bay.”: “Compliance with the notice is expected to cost Shell “several millions of dollars a year…”

By Kenneth Nguyen

October 19, 2004

The EPA has issued a soil and groundwater clean-up notice against Shell, warning that oil leaking from the company’s Corio refinery is threatening Corio Bay.

Although the seepage is mainly under Shell’s refinery, of particular concern for the EPA is a plume of contaminated groundwater covering at least 100 square metres underneath the Corio foreshore.

Shell said yesterday that it was already working on cleaning up groundwater.

But EPA chairman Mick Bourke said the company had engaged in “insufficient actions and slow implementation of measures . . . to address (the EPA’s) environmental concerns”. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Shell’s Jiffy Lube Nears Deal To Settle Consumer Lawsuits

From our October 2004 Shell News Archive

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL/DOW JONES NEWSWIRES: Jiffy Lube Nears Deal To Settle Consumer Lawsuits

“It was just a straight rip-off for $1.25 every time someone came in,” said Scott R. Shepherd, a Pennsylvania attorney who sued the company”: “Jiffy Lube, a wholly owned subsidiary of Shell Oil Co…”: “Marc A. Wites, a Florida lawyer, said it would cover only 8 million of the 34 million people who paid the surcharge.”

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pf6KY6rrqYU

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiCAJ8ULnaI

DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

October 19, 2004 12:57 a.m.

DALLAS (AP)–An Oklahoma judge is poised to approve a settlement of class-action lawsuits by drivers who say they were cheated when Jiffy Lube International Inc. added surcharges to their oil-change bills over the past five years.

The settlement would close at least nine pending class-action cases from California to New Jersey -a similar accord has been reached in a New York case. Some customers would get $5 off their next oil change. The three law firms that negotiated with Houston-based Jiffy Lube would split $2.75 million. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

The new Untouchables

From our October 2004 Shell News Archive

Daily Mail (UK): The new Untouchables

“Sir Philip Watts, former chairman of Shell, plainly hopes that the checks and balances of British corporate justice will save him from the hands of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).”: “The quarrel has a hidden significance. Watts is personally under investigation on both sides of the Atlantic. The SEC apparently is interested in extraditing him to the United States to face allegations. Watts and his lawyers are proclaiming his innocence, but their tactics may also tie the British regulators in knots and keep the Americans at bay.”

Alex Brummer,

19 October 2004

BRITISH financial policing all too often looks dysfunctional. The time taken to conduct investigations and to bring charges more often than not runs to years not months. Cases frequently fall through the regulatory gaps.

And when the authorities seek to demonstrate the firm hand of regulation they find themselves pinned back by appeals tribunals. This is before European human rights law is brought into play.

The disclosure that Malcolm Walker, the founder and former chairman of Iceland, will not be prosecuted after four years of probes into allegations of insider trading is a case in point. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

FSA urges tribunal to reject Shell boss appeal

Daily Express (UK): FSA urges tribunal to reject Shell boss appeal

“The reserves crisis is being investigated by criminal authorities in the US, where Shell is facing civil actions for millions of pounds.”

19 Oct 2004

CITY watchdog the Financial Services Authority is urging an independent tribunal to dismiss an appeal by former Shell boss Sir Philip Watts.

It believes the Financial Services and Markets Tribunal should reject Watts’s claims that it identified him, in contravention of its own rules, when explaining the reasons for fining the oil giant £17 million over its reserves fiasco this year.

In a statement yesterday, the regulator said the tribunal should first decide whether Watts was “identified and prejudiced” when the fine was issued. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

The powers in the boardroom: Maarten van den Bergh

The Times: The powers in the boardroom

“Van den Bergh was appointed group managing director of Royal Dutch/Shell in 1992. He left suddenly in 2000, saying he had grown tired of the endless travelling. His views on this year’s furore over Shell’s oil reserves are not known. It is not a subject that goes down well with Shell alumni.

Oilman who made slick transition to bank boss

By Jon Ashworth

October 18, 2004

The world-travelled chairman of Lloyds TSB who made the switch from energy to high finance

THERE are some corners of the world where cynicism has yet to take root. Or perhaps it is simply that the locals do as they are told. Either could explain the spectacle that greeted Maarten van den Bergh during a visit to South Africa in the late 1990s.

Nelson Mandela had persuaded Shell to build a new school near his birthplace in the Eastern Cape. As one of Shell’s most senior executives, Van den Bergh had been flown in for the inauguration. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

FSA bids to sink Shell man’s appeal

London Evening Standard: FSA bids to sink Shell man’s appeal

“THE Financial Services Authority has sensationally asked an independent tribunal to block an appeal case launched by former Shell chairman Sir Philip Watts.”: “Watts’ outburst last month was the first time the oil executive had commented on the reserves scandal that has crippled Shell this year.”

Steve Hawkes,

18 October 2004

THE Financial Services Authority has sensationally asked an independent tribunal to block an appeal case launched by former Shell chairman Sir Philip Watts.

The City watchdog has urged the Financial Services and Markets Tribunal to throw out claims by Watts that it broke its own rules by identifying him when finding Shell guilty earlier this year of stock market abuse in overstating oil and gas reserves.

It wants a preliminary decision to be made on the prejudice claim in the hope the rest of the case will then have to be shelved. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

U.K. FSA Asks for Ruling on Ex-Shell Boss’s Challenge

BLOOMBERG: U.K. FSA Asks for Ruling on Ex-Shell Boss’s Challenge

“Class-Action Ammunition: While Watts wasn’t identified by name in the FSA’s notice, it may provide ammunition in the class-action suits filed against him.”: “Watts, 59, asked for the tribunal to challenge the notice the FSA published when Shell agreed to pay fines of $150 million in Britain and the U.S.

Oct. 18 (Bloomberg) — The U.K.’s financial regulator will ask a tribunal to decide whether former Royal Dutch/Shell Group chairman Philip Watts was “identified and prejudiced” by the regulator’s penalty against Shell for overstating oil reserves.

“We are confident that he was not and that the tribunal will agree with us,” the Financial Services Authority said in an e- mailed statement. “This would mean that the tribunal will have no jurisdiction to consider the other matters which Sir Philip has referred to the tribunal.” read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Oil giants face price-fix charges

The Scotsman: Oil giants face price-fix charges

“Shell, which is being investigated in relation to its Dutch operations, said that the firm had been co-operating fully with the investigation, but has yet to be informed of any decision.”

Alastair Reed

Posted Oct 17, 2004

EUROPEAN Union regulators are set to charge two global oil giants and a Dutch road builder with fixing the price of a petroleum product used to pave streets.

Oil giants Exxon Mobil and Royal Dutch/Shell have both been under investigation by the European Commission as part of inquiries stretching back to 2002, along with road builders such as Ballast Nedam NV of the Netherlands. The investigation focused on the market for bitumen, a by-product from the crude oil refining process, which is primarily used in the construction industry for surfacing roads and waterproofing. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Shell team effort raises over $2.9 million for United Way

CNW Telbeck (Canada): Shell team effort raises over $2.9 million for United Way

“- Shell Canada, its employees and retirees announced a donation of $2,969,795 to United Way of Calgary and area today, the single largest United Way contribution in Alberta history.”

16 Oct 2004

CALGARY, CNW/ – Shell Canada, its employees and retirees announced a donation of $2,969,795 to United Way of Calgary and area today, the single largest United Way contribution in Alberta history. This exceeds last year’s record-breaking $2.1 million donation which was the largest ever United Way contribution from an organization headquartered in Western Canada.

“Shell’s partnership with United Way directly reflects our commitment to sustainable development,” said Clive Mather, Shell Canada President and Chief Executive Officer. “While this is a significant donation, we cannot underestimate the number of people and the amount of hours that contributed to the success of this year’s campaign,” he said. “Together, we can build an extraordinary community.” read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Shell Says To Help Iraq Oil Min Develop Gas Master Plan

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL/DOW JONES NEWSWIRES: Shell Says To Help Iraq Oil Min Develop Gas Master Plan

“Oil major Royal Dutch/Shell won approval from the Iraqi Oil Ministry to help develop a gas master plan, the Iraq project manager for Shell Exploration and Production said Friday.”

DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

Posted 16 Oct 04

LONDON — Oil major Royal Dutch/Shell won approval from the Iraqi Oil Ministry to help develop a gas master plan, the Iraq project manager for Shell Exploration and Production said Friday.

The plan for dealing with Iraq’s associated and non-associated gas, is expected to take around a year to formulate, depending on how detailed it will be Piet Ruijtenberg told Dow Jones Newswires in a telephone interview.

“They’ve just given us the go-ahead and we will be setting up the team by the first quarter of next year,” Ruijtenberg said. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

EU to Charge Exxon, Shell in Cartel Probe, People Say

Bloomberg: EU to Charge Exxon, Shell in Cartel Probe, People Say

“The European Commission, the EU’s Brussels-based regulatory arm, will charge the producers and consumers with colluding to fix prices for bitumen in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Portugal and Spain, said people who declined to be identified.”

Posted 16 Oct. (Bloomberg) — European Union regulators will charge oil companies, including Exxon Mobil Corp. and Royal Dutch/Shell Group, and road builders such as Ballast Nedam NV with fixing the price of a petroleum product used to pave streets, people familiar with the matter said.

The European Commission, the EU’s Brussels-based regulatory arm, will charge the producers and consumers with colluding to fix prices for bitumen in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Portugal and Spain, said people who declined to be identified. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Shell signs North America LNG deal

Financial Times: Shell signs North America LNG deal

By James Boxell

Published: October 15 2004

Royal Dutch/Shell has signed a deal to supply 37m tonnes of liquefied natural gas to Mexico and the US west coast, in what it claims will be the first export of Russian gas to North America. The gas, which will be supplied over a 20-year period, will come from Shell’s huge Sakhalin 2 project in Russia’s far east. As part of the deal, Shell is buying 50 per cent of the capacity of a Mexican LNG plant, which will be used to convert the liquid back into gas for distribution in Mexico and California. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Perils that lie in risk management

London Evening Standard: Perils that lie in risk management

“…it is less than 10 years since Shell was vilified for its environmentally sensible proposal to sink the Brent Spar oil platform in the Atlantic, and thereby introduced the world to reputational risk.”: “Regulators, auditors, ratings agencies and even businessmen speak of little else these days. A whole new science has grown up to meet the need.”

Anthony Hilton,

15 October 2004

IT hardly bears thinking about but it is still less than 10 years since Nick Leeson brought down Barings bank and introduced the world to the concept of operational risk.

Similarly, it is less than 10 years since Shell was vilified for its environmentally sensible proposal to sink the Brent Spar oil platform in the Atlantic, and thereby introduced the world to reputational risk. In that age of innocence, no one talked about risk control.

Regulators, auditors, ratings agencies and even businessmen speak of little else these days. A whole new science has grown up to meet the need. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Shell strikes US$6B deal to ship Russian liquefied gas to North America

Canadian Press: Shell strikes US$6B deal to ship Russian liquefied gas to North America

“The deal is the first that would funnel Russian LNG to the United States, whose demand for natural gas is surging as domestic supply dwindles.”

Thursday, October 14, 2004

MOSCOW (CP) – A consortium led by Royal Dutch/Shell Group that is developing gas reserves off Russia’s Sakhalin Island said Thursday it has struck a $6-billion-US deal to supply liquefied natural gas, or LNG, to energy-hungry North America.

Sakhalin Energy Investment Ltd., operator of the Sakhalin-2 project, said it signed an agreement to ship 37 million tonnes of LNG to a regasification terminal in Mexico.

Shell, which is building the Energia Costa Azul terminal in Baja California with California’s Sempra Energy, is the buyer of the gas. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Strike threatens Nigeria’s oil production

The Guardian: Strike threatens Nigeria’s oil production

“Trade unions in Nigeria yesterday threatened to extend a three-day general strike which has shut down much of the country and driven world oil prices to a record high.”: Union in world’s seventh-biggest exporter says it will shut down supplies if police harass protesters

Rory Carroll, Africa correspondent

Thursday October 14, 2004

Trade unions in Nigeria yesterday threatened to extend a three-day general strike which has shut down much of the country and driven world oil prices to a record high.

The stoppage was due to end today but labour leaders said it would continue if the government used heavy-handed tactics against strikers.

At least two people have been killed in clashes between protesters and police, a modest toll compared with previous strikes, but the unions signalled that they would maintain their momentum. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Nigerian union leaders threaten to extend strike over fuel prices

AP Worldstream: Nigerian union leaders threaten to extend strike over fuel prices

“The general strike, which began Monday, was supposed to last four days and resume again in two weeks if fuel prices don’t come down. The move has already shut down businesses across the country and helped push world oil prices to record highs.”: “It was not known what caused the leak on Monday at Moghor in the Ogoni district of the oil-rich delta. While Shell officials tried to investigate, a group of unidentified saboteurs set the pipeline on fire, Shell said in a statement.”

DULUE MBACHU

Oct 13, 2004

A union leader who called a nationwide strike to protest rising fuel prices in Nigeria warned that the strike could be extended if serious violence breaks out or the government refuses to consider its demands.

The general strike, which began Monday, was supposed to last four days and resume again in two weeks if fuel prices don’t come down. The move has already shut down businesses across the country and helped push world oil prices to record highs.

Little violence has been reported so far, but at least two people have been killed in clashes between police and pro-union protesters. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.
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