British energy giant Shell continued operating a major oil pipeline in Nigeria for years despite internal warnings over environmental risks and infrastructure integrity, according to newly disclosed company documents cited in a BBC investigation.
The documents, released as part of ongoing litigation in the United Kingdom, include internal emails, technical assessments and presentations indicating that senior Shell executives repeatedly raised concerns about the condition of the Nembe Creek Trunk Line (NCTL), a key pipeline transporting crude from inland oilfields to export terminals.
The revelations have intensified scrutiny of long-standing pollution in Nigeria’s oil-producing Niger Delta, where repeated spills have damaged wetlands, mangroves and fishing livelihoods across multiple communities.
The affected communities are pursuing legal action seeking about US$1 billion in damages, including compensation and environmental remediation costs.
Internal warnings dating back years
According to the documents, concerns about the pipeline’s safety date back to at least 2008, when senior Shell technical executives warned that continued operation under existing conditions posed significant risks.
One internal email from Markus Droll, then Shell’s technical vice-president, warned that another major attack on the pipeline could force a shutdown of production, highlighting vulnerability in the infrastructure.
Other internal communications reportedly questioned whether sufficient safeguards were in place and suggested sections of the pipeline may already have been compromised.
In response, Shell executives acknowledged the operational challenges but argued that continued production represented a lower overall risk compared with a shutdown scenario, given the prevalence of oil theft and sabotage in the region.
High-risk classification and continued operation
A confidential 2012 internal assessment reportedly classified sections of the pipeline as “red” the highest-risk category under Shell’s internal safety system due to multiple illegal tapping points created by oil theft activities.
Under company guidelines, such classification would typically require immediate shutdown or urgent remediation. However, executives are said to have authorised continued operation, citing concerns that closure could lead to further illegal connections and worsen losses.
The Nembe Creek Trunk Line, which Shell later sold, had the capacity to transport about 150,000 barrels of crude per day but was frequently affected by leaks, vandalism and crude theft.
Audit warnings and internal concerns
Further documents from 2013 show internal discussions about auditing pipeline integrity and oil theft management between 2009 and 2012.
In one internal exchange, a senior manager reportedly warned that such an audit could expose the company to significant liability in disputes over oil losses and compensation claims.
A separate internal review, codenamed Project Madrid, reportedly estimated widespread environmental damage, including extensive contamination linked to illegal refining activities and multiple spill incidents along the pipeline corridor.
More Read
Environmental impact in the Niger Delta
The Niger Delta has long been one of the world’s most heavily polluted oil-producing regions.
According to United Nations estimates, millions of barrels of oil have spilled across thousands of incidents since commercial production began in Nigeria in the late 1950s.
Communities in affected areas have repeatedly reported loss of farmland, declining fish stocks and deterioration of mangrove ecosystems due to persistent oil contamination.
Environmental campaigners, including groups linked to the legacy of activist Ken Saro-Wiwa, have long accused oil companies of failing to adequately prevent or remediate pollution in the region.
Shell’s response
Shell has said the documents do not fully reflect operational realities in the Niger Delta, where it faces widespread oil theft, illegal refining and security challenges.
The company argues that these factors are major contributors to environmental damage and says it has invested in surveillance, spill response and infrastructure protection.
Shell has also previously alleged that some local community members were involved in oil theft activities, a claim strongly disputed by community representatives.
Ongoing legal and reputational pressure
The disclosures add to a series of legal and reputational challenges facing Shell over environmental damage in Nigeria, including past court rulings ordering compensation for affected communities.
Despite ongoing litigation and criticism from environmental groups, the company has indicated continued interest in maintaining a presence in Nigeria’s energy sector, citing improved policy conditions.
The Nigerian government has not yet issued a formal response to the latest allegations contained in the leaked documents.
The case is expected to further intensify debate over corporate accountability, environmental regulation and the long-term impact of oil production in the Niger Delta.
