Skip to main content

What are Shell's activities in Nigeria?

Shell has played a significant role in Nigeria’s energy sector and continues to be a major investor, supporting the country’s growing energy needs and ambitions, while contributing to its economy.

Summary

  • Shell is a major investor in Nigeria, supporting the country’s energy ambitions and its economy. We do this through deep-water oil and gas, as well as our liquefied natural gas (LNG) operations.
  • This page details Shell’s history and current activities in Nigeria. It also includes frequently asked questions about current activities and past operations.

Shell's business and history in Nigeria

Shell has been active in Nigeria since 1937, where we played an important role in the development of the country’s energy sector.

Shell helped build Nigeria’s onshore oil and gas industry following the discovery of oil in the Niger Delta in 1956:

  • Shell was also instrumental in creating Nigeria LNG, which has grown into one of the world’s largest LNG producers. More recently, Shell played a pioneering role in the development of Nigeria's deep-water oil and gas resources.
  • In 2024, Shell sold its onshore subsidiary Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC). We remain active in Nigeria’s LNG and deep-water oil and gas industry where Shell has made significant investments over the last year.
  • Shell has made substantial contributions to the Nigerian economy. We pay taxes and royalties that boost the government’s revenues and invest heavily in building the capabilities of local suppliers. This is done through education in scholarships and providing employment in communities.

Shell's main activities in Nigeria today

Today, Shell’s focus in Nigeria is on deepwater and LNG investments:

  • Deep-water oil and gas: Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo) pioneered deep-water oil and gas production from the Bonga field in the Gulf of Guinea, a deep-water development at water depths exceeding 1,000 meters. Production from the Bonga field began in 2005, with a capacity to produce 225,000 barrels of oil per day. The Bonga field produced its one-billionth barrel of crude oil in 2023.
  • LNG: Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) is a joint venture producing LNG and natural gas liquids for export. (Shell holds a 25.6% interest)

Recent investments include:

  • HI gas project: In 2025, SNEPCo together with Sunlink Energies and Resources Limited, took a final investment decision (FID) on the HI gas project offshore Nigeria, with production expected to begin before the end of this decade. Read the media release
  • Bonga North: In late 2024, SNEPCo announced a FID on Bonga North, a deep-water project off the coast of Nigeria with first oil anticipated by the end of the decade. Read the media release
  • Increasing interest in Bonga field (OML 118): In 2025, SNEPCo increased its stake from 55% to 65% in OML 118, where the Bonga field is located. Read the media release

This section provides context on pollution and related legal cases in Nigeria. It includes the causes, regulatory responses and legal proceedings involving Shell and its former onshore subsidiary.

Understanding the challenges of operating in the Niger Delta

For many years, the vast majority of pollution in the Niger Delta including in Ogoniland and in communities such as Bille and Ogale, have been caused by the criminal acts of third parties, such as thieves who drill holes into pipelines to siphon off the crude oil and engage in illegal refining.

These actions not only deprive Nigeria of vital public revenue but also create safety risks for the operators and the host communities.

In 2024, Shell sold its onshore Nigerian subsidiary, SPDC (operating as a joint venture). The company changed its name to Renaissance Africa Energy Company (Renaissance). It continues to operate as a joint venture with Nigeria’s national oil company and two other parties.

In 2011, Shell entered into a settlement agreement with the Nigerian government and various other parties including the Italian energy company, Eni to resolve a dispute regarding entitlement to an oil prospecting licence (OPL 245) that covered an oil discovery in deep-water offshore Nigeria.

As part of the settlement Shell and Eni made payments to the government. Subsequently the settlement was investigated following allegations Shell and Eni made these payments unlawfully.

In Italy, the public prosecutor brought charges of corruption against both companies. However, in 2021, a Milan Tribunal found no evidence of corruption and acquitted Shell and Eni, and all other defendants of all charges. In 2022, the appeal in Italy was withdrawn for lack of evidence and criminal investigations in the Netherlands, the United States and the United Kingdom were closed. 

In 2026, the Nigerian government agreed to the conversion of OPL 245, granting Eni (operator), Shell and Nigeria’s national oil company (NNPC) two development leases and two exploration licences in accordance with the Petroleum Industry Act that came into effect in 2021.

These new licences and leases added to Shell’s expanding portfolio of deep-water opportunities offshore Nigeria.

Shell in Nigeria media releases and resources

Media releases

Last updated: March 10, 2026

Other resources 

Frequently asked questions about Shell in Nigeria

  • Nigeria’s economy has depended on export of crude oil for decades, with the sector representing a major share of national exports and GDP.
  • For many years, the vast majority of the pollution in the Niger Delta have been caused by large‑scale oil theft, sabotage of pipelines and illegal refining. Shell’s former Nigerian onshore subsidiary SPDC worked with the Nigerian authorities, its joint venture partner, Nigeria’s national oil company (NNPC), and local communities to address these challenges. Shell maintains that it is not liable for pollution caused by the criminal acts of third parties. Find more detail on the Bille and Ogale case.
  • In 2024, Shell announced the sale of SPDC. Following the sale SPDC changed its name to Renaissance Africa Energy Company.

Why did Shell sell its former Nigerian onshore subsidiary to Renaissance Africa Energy Company in 2024?

  • Shell announced the sale of SPDC, its Nigerian onshore subsidiary, in 2024 to a consortium of Nigerian investors with operating experience in the Niger Delta.
  • The sale was completed in 2025 and approved by the Nigerian government. Following completion of the sale SPDC changed its name to Renaissance Africa Energy Company.
  • The divestment aligned with Shell’s global strategy focusing future disciplined investment in Nigeria in its offshore deepwater and Integrated Gas businesses. 

Following the sale of SPDC in 2024, who has responsibility for cleaning up the environmental impacts of spills from the joint venture’s operations?

  • The sale of SPDC, Shell’s former Nigerian onshore subsidiary was designed to keep the company’s operating capability intact, including its capability to conduct environmental cleanup.
  • Following the sale, SPDC changed its name to Renaissance Africa Energy Company (Renaissance).
  • The management of Renaissance consists of former Shell staff with extensive technical expertise and experience in the operating environment in the Niger Delta.
  • Shell remains a major investor in Nigeria, supporting the country’s energy ambitions and its economy. Shell continues to operate in Nigeria (deepwater and Integrated Gas (LNG)).
  • The spills from Renaissance’s joint venture facilities referenced in the Bille and Ogale litigation were cleaned up by the joint venture regardless of cause as required by Nigerian law and working in collaboration with government-owned partner, NNPC Ltd, Nigerian government agencies and local communities.
  • Clean up certificates were issued by the Nigerian regulator, NOSDRA.

Find more detail on the Bille and Ogale case

What is the status of the Ogoniland oil spills and community compensation?

  • The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) issued a report in 2011 providing an environmental assessment of Ogoniland and made recommendations to the Nigerian government and the companies active in the area, including SPDC, Shell’s former onshore subsidiary.
  • Although SPDC, Shell’s former Nigerian onshore subsidiary, had not produced oil or gas in Ogoniland since 1993, it adopted changes in its operating procedures in line with the recommendations in the UNEP report.

What is the status of the Bodo oil spills and community compensation?

  • In late 2008, two operational oil spills occurred on the Bomu-Bonny Pipeline in Bodo. Shell's former onshore Nigerian subsidiary SPDC acknowledged responsibility to pay compensation and to clean up and remediate the environment impacted by the 2008 spills.
  • Starting in 2013, a multi-year clean-up exercise was carried out in Bodo through the Bodo Mediation Initiative (BMI), in cooperation with the Bodo community and Nigerian regulators.
  • The BMI mobilised more than 2400 community workers to clean up, remediate and restore the identified impacted areas in Bodo and address re-pollution challenges caused by oil theft and other illegal activities in the area.
  • Prior to Shell's divestment of SPDC to Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, the SPDC joint venture had invested over USD $85 million in the Bodo Mediation Initiative-led clean-up.
  • The Bodo cleanup is now 100% complete and certified by the Nigerian regulator, NOSDRA.
  • In 2011, Shell entered into a settlement agreement with the Nigerian government and various other parties including the Italian energy company, Eni to resolve a dispute regarding entitlement to an oil prospecting licence (OPL 245) that covered an oil discovery in deep-water offshore Nigeria.
  • As part of the settlement, Shell and Eni made payments to the government. Subsequently, the settlement was investigated following allegations Shell and Eni made these payments unlawfully.
  • In Italy, the public prosecutor brought charges of corruption against both companies. However, in 2021, a Milan Tribunal found no evidence of corruption and acquitted Shell and Eni of all charges. Other authorities also closed their investigations.
  • In 2026, the Nigerian government agreed to the conversion of OPL 245, granting Eni (operator), Shell and Nigeria’s national oil company (NNPC) two development leases and two exploration licences in accordance with the Petroleum Industry Act that came into effect in 2021. Read the media release

What was Shell's involvement in the Ogoni 9?

  • The tragic events of 1995 shocked Shell deeply. We have always denied the allegations made in the strongest possible terms.
  • We believe the evidence clearly shows that Shell was not responsible for these distressing events and the Kiobel claims in the Netherlands -- where these allegations were made -- failed in the Dutch court after a full trial.
  • The District Court of The Hague confirmed there was no basis for these claims in its March 2022 ruling.
  • While not involved in the Ogoni Tribunal, the Shell Group, alongside other organisations and individuals, appealed for clemency to the military government in power in Nigeria at that time. To our deep regret those appeals went unheard.

Cautionary note

The companies in which Shell plc directly and indirectly owns investments are separate legal entities. In this content “Shell”, “Shell Group” and “Group” are sometimes used for convenience to reference Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general. Likewise, the words “we”, “us” and “our” are also used to refer to Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them. These terms are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular entity or entities. ‘‘Subsidiaries’’, “Shell subsidiaries” and “Shell companies” as used in this content refer to entities over which Shell plc either directly or indirectly has control. The terms “joint venture”, “joint operations”, “joint arrangements”, and “associates” may also be used to refer to a commercial arrangement in which Shell has a direct or indirect ownership interest with one or more parties. The term “Shell interest” is used for convenience to indicate the direct and/or indirect ownership interest held by Shell in an entity or unincorporated joint arrangement, after exclusion of all third-party interest.

Forward-Looking statements

This content contains forward-looking statements (within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) concerning the financial condition, results of operations and businesses of Shell. All statements other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements of future expectations that are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements concerning the potential exposure of Shell to market risks and statements expressing management’s expectations, beliefs, estimates, forecasts, projections and assumptions. These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as “aim”; “ambition”; ‘‘anticipate’’; “aspire”, “aspiration”, ‘‘believe’’; “commit”; “commitment”; ‘‘could’’; “desire”; ‘‘estimate’’; ‘‘expect’’; ‘‘goals’’; ‘‘intend’’; ‘‘may’’; “milestones”; ‘‘objectives’’; ‘‘outlook’’; ‘‘plan’’; ‘‘probably’’; ‘‘project’’; ‘‘risks’’; “schedule”; ‘‘seek’’; ‘‘should’’; ‘‘target’’; “vision”; ‘‘will’’; “would” and similar terms and phrases. There are a number of factors that could affect the future operations of Shell and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements included in this content, including (without limitation): (a) price fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas; (b) changes in demand for Shell’s products; (c) currency fluctuations; (d) drilling and production results; (e) reserves estimates; (f) loss of market share and industry competition; (g) environmental and physical risks, including climate change; (h) risks associated with the identification of suitable potential acquisition properties and targets, and successful negotiation and completion of such transactions; (i) the risk of doing business in developing countries and countries subject to international sanctions; (j) legislative, judicial, fiscal and regulatory developments including tariffs and regulatory measures addressing climate change; (k) economic and financial market conditions in various countries and regions; (l) political risks, including the risks of expropriation and renegotiation of the terms of contracts with governmental entities, delays or advancements in the approval of projects and delays in the reimbursement for shared costs; (m) risks associated with the impact of pandemics, regional conflicts, such as the Russia-Ukraine war and the conflict in the Middle East, and a significant cyber security, data privacy or IT incident; (n) the pace of the energy transition; and (o) changes in trading conditions. No assurance is provided that future dividend payments will match or exceed previous dividend payments. All forward-looking statements contained in this content are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional risk factors that may affect future results are contained in Shell plc’s Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2025 (available at www.shell.com/investors/news-and-filings/sec-filings.html and www.sec.gov

). These risk factors also expressly qualify all forward-looking statements contained in this content and should be considered by the reader. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this content. Neither Shell plc nor any of its subsidiaries undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or other information. In light of these risks, results could differ materially from those stated, implied or inferred from the forward-looking statements contained in this content.

Shell’s net carbon intensity

Also, in this content we may refer to Shell’s “net carbon intensity” (NCI), which includes Shell’s carbon emissions from the production of our energy products, our suppliers’ carbon emissions in supplying energy for that production and our customers’ carbon emissions associated with their use of the energy products we sell. Shell’s NCI also includes the emissions associated with the production and use of energy products produced by others which Shell purchases for resale. Shell only controls its own emissions. The use of the terms Shell’s “net carbon intensity” or NCI is for convenience only and not intended to suggest these emissions are those of Shell plc or its subsidiaries.

Shell’s net-zero emissions target

Shell’s operating plan and outlook are forecasted for a three-year period and ten-year period, respectively, and are updated every year. They reflect the current economic environment and what we can reasonably expect to see over the next three and ten years. Accordingly, the outlook reflects our combined Scope 1 and 2 target, NCI target and our oil products ambition over the next ten years. However, Shell’s operating plan and outlook cannot reflect our 2050 net-zero emissions target, as this target is outside our planning period. Such future operating plans and outlooks could include changes to our portfolio, efficiency improvements and the use of carbon capture and storage and carbon credits. In the future, as society moves towards net-zero emissions, we expect Shell’s operating plans and outlooks to reflect this movement. However, if society is not net zero in 2050, as of today, there would be significant risk that Shell may not meet this target.

Forward-Looking non-GAAP measures

This content may contain certain forward-looking non-GAAP measures such as free cash flow and underlying operating expenses. We are unable to provide a reconciliation of these forward-looking non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP financial measures because certain information needed to reconcile those non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP financial measures is dependent on future events some of which are outside the control of Shell, such as oil and gas prices, interest rates and exchange rates. Moreover, estimating such GAAP measures with the required precision necessary to provide a meaningful reconciliation is extremely difficult and could not be accomplished without unreasonable effort. Non-GAAP measures in respect of future periods which cannot be reconciled to the most comparable GAAP financial measure are calculated in a manner which is consistent with the accounting policies applied in Shell plc’s consolidated financial statements.

The contents of websites referred to in this content do not form part of this content.

We may have used certain terms, such as resources, in this content that the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) strictly prohibits us from including in our filings with the SEC. Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in our Form 20-F, File No 1-32575, available on the SEC website www.sec.gov

You may also be interested in