British multinational Shell continued operating a major oil pipeline in Nigeria for years despite knowing it was causing widespread pollution, internal documents obtained by the BBC show.
The 60-mile Nembe Creek Trunk Line, capable of carrying 150,000 barrels of oil per day, was plagued by spills and illegal theft connections. As early as 2008, Shell's technical vice president Markus Droll warned of the risks, writing: "The approach makes me... pretty uncomfortable."
Despite internal warnings, senior executives approved continued operations, citing concerns that shutdowns would simply displace illegal activity. A 2012 document classified sections of the pipeline as "red," requiring immediate corrective action, but operations continued.
Residents of the riverine community of Bille describe once-rich fishing grounds now toxic and unusable. Fisherman Balafama Augustus Bruce, 64, told the BBC: "Because of the damage, nobody is fishing here again. I've become poor."
The communities are seeking $1 billion in compensation and cleanup costs. Shell argues most pollution stems from oil theft and illegal refining, saying it will "vigorously defend the claims at trial next year."
Legal proceedings in the UK involve 100 leaks between 2011 and 2013. Since 1958, at least 13 million barrels of crude have been spilled in over 7,000 incidents, according to the UN.