Oil Spill in the Bodo area. Shell pays the local community 70 million compensation. Photo Reuters / Austin Ekeinde
Shell pays a Nigerian fishing community of 55 million pounds (70 million euros) compensation for the damage after the worst oil spill ever in the West African country. That made the Anglo-Dutch oil company announced today.
The two oil leak took place in 2008, and destroyed thousands of hectares of mangroves and fish and shellfish where the local community in places Bodo lives. Of the 55 million pounds is 35 million to 15,600 fishermen and farmers in the area. The remaining £ 20 million will go to the community and is used for health care and schools. There are about seventy people in Bodo.
The settlement was reached by the Nigerian subsidiary of Shell, which 55 percent is owned by the Nigerian government. About compensation for three years, a battle conducted in British courtrooms. In 2011, Shell acknowledged all liability for the oil spill.
According to the lawyer of the fishing village, Leigh Day, the damages “the largest community after a complete environmental damage”. Initially, Shell had offered 4,000 pounds, says Day. The director of Shell Nigeria, Mutiu Sunmonu said opposite AP that his company “has always sought a fair compensation.”
Shell has undertaken also “fully committed” to be on the cleaning of this particular area. A portion of the compensation will be used to provide farmers and fishermen a basic income as long as it is not yet possible to fish and crops to grow.
In the Niger Delta region constantly find oil leaks place, whether not by sabotage. According to a report by the UN can be more than thirty years, will take up the entire area is oil-free
Amnesty International made a few years ago, a movie about the oil spill in Bodo:.
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