Who we are
Shell is an international energy company with expertise in the exploration, production, refining and marketing of oil and natural gas, and the manufacturing and marketing of chemicals.
We use advanced technologies and take an innovative approach to help build a sustainable energy future. We also invest in power, including from low-carbon sources such as wind and solar; and new fuels for transport, such as advanced biofuels and hydrogen.
Royal Dutch Shell was formed in 1907, although our history can be traced back to the first half of the 19th century.
Our headquarters are in The Hague, the Netherlands. The parent company of the Shell group is Royal Dutch Shell plc, which is incorporated in England and Wales. The Chief Executive Officer is Ben van Beurden.
Our purpose
Shell's purpose is to power progress together with more and cleaner energy solutions. We believe that rising standards of living for a growing global population are likely to continue to drive demand for energy, including oil and gas, for years to come. At the same time, the need to tackle climate change means there is a global transition under way to a low-carbon energy system.
Our people
Our people are essential to the successful delivery of the Shell strategy and to sustaining business performance over the long term. Performing competitively in the evolving energy landscape requires competent and empowered people working safely together across Shell.
We believe that diverse teams led by inclusive leaders deliver better safety and business performance.
Shell at a glance in 2019
70+ countries where we operate
83,000 employees on December 31, 2019, with an additional 4,000 in certain New Energies and Downstream companies
74.5 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) sold during 2019
15 refineries in which we have interests
3.7 million barrels of oil equivalent we produce per day
Financial performance in 2019
Revenue: $344.9 billion
Income: $16.4 billion
Capital investment: $28.8 billion
Investment in research and development: $962 million
Fast facts for sustainable development in 2019
$116 million was spent on voluntary social investment worldwide. Of this:
- $56 million was spent on local programmes for community development, disaster relief, education, road safety, health and biodiversity.
- $60 million was in line with our global themes – access to energy, community skills, enterprise development and science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) education.
Around $84 million of our total social investment spend in 2019 was in countries that are part of the UN Development Programme’s Human Development Index 2018. These countries have a gross domestic product of less than $15,000 a year per person. Shell also provides significant support in the form of voluntary work by its employees and donations of equipment.
More in About Us
What we do
Shell is a global group of energy and petrochemical companies that aims to meet the world’s growing need for more and cleaner energy solutions in ways that are economically, environmentally and socially responsible.
Our Values
At Shell, we share a set of core values – honesty, integrity and respect for people – which underpin all the work we do. The Shell General Business Principles, Code of Conduct, and Ethics and Compliance Manual help everyone at Shell act in line with these values and comply with relevant laws and regulations.
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What sustainability means at Shell
Powering Progress sets out Shell’s strategy to accelerate the transition of our business to net-zero emissions, in step with society. It is designed to integrate sustainability with our business strategy.