May 16, 2023
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Greenpeace activists have reportedly been boarding a Shell-chartered vessel that is on its way to the UK’s North Sea to show their protest against the energy firm’s production of fossil fuels.
Furthermore, the environmental campaign group had reportedly mentioned that four activists had climbed onto the ship transporting Shell’s FPSO on Tuesday morning north of the Canary Islands when it was sailing for the Penguins oil and gas field to the northeast of the Shetland Islands.
Videos reflected protesters approaching the FPSO in many small boats through rough seas before hauling themselves on the deck with ropes and unfurling a banner with a message to stop drilling and start paying.
BREAKING: Greenpeace activists have OCCUPIED a Shell platform en route to the North Sea!
They have a message for the oil giant – Stop Drilling. Start Paying.
Shoutout to these brave activists pic.twitter.com/F23jSZDsJP
— Greenpeace UK (@GreenpeaceUK) January 31, 2023
The UK-listed energy major is preparing to report a record of approximately $40 billion in annual earnings when it releases the 2022 financial results on Thursday.
Like its rivals, Shell has reportedly benefited from soaring oil and gas prices that result from the energy crisis unleashed by Russia’s war in Ukraine, stoking calls for increased taxes.
Greenpeace explained that it was the first time it had staged direct actions against an oil and gas firm’s North Sea operations, as its experienced activists reportedly boarded a BP oil rig departing a Scottish port in 2019.
Oil producers have encountered protests from groups like Greenpeace for decades. Still, they have come under increased pressure over recent years amid broader calls for ceasing or slowing down the production of fossil fuels to cut down global emissions.
In 2019, Shell pulled out of the development of the Cambo oilfield, lying to the west of Shetland, which had reportedly become the core focus of environmental activists.
Like other major energy firms, Shell has also committed to lowering emissions from operations but argues that it needs to invest in oil and gas production to satisfy global demands. At the same time, the whole world gradually transitions to better and cleaner forms of energy.
The Penguins field, located about 241km northeast of the Shetland Islands, has been producing oil since 2002. In 2018, Shell allegedly approved plans to extend the assignment’s life by drilling eight new wells connected to a brand-new FPSO, following the infrastructure linked to the field had been decommissioned. Penguins are expected to produce almost 45,000 barrels of oil equivalent daily with the redevelopment execution.
Shell mentioned that projects like Penguins are crucial to that supply and facilitate the reduction of the UK’s dependence on costlier and higher carbon energy imports.
Shell stated that the protesters’ actions resulted in safety concerns, with several individuals boarding a moving vessel. It added that while the firm respects the right of all individuals to express their views, they must do so with the safety of themselves and others on their minds.
The FPSO is now being transported by Boskalis, Dutch maritime services major.
References: Bloomberg, Guardian
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