Shell 2021 oil spills in Nigeria double in volume

An overview of the Niger delta where signs of oil spills can be seen in the water in Port Harcourt, Nigeria on 1 August 2018. Reuters/Ron Bousso

While the volume of spills rose, the number of major spills fell to 106 in 2021 from 122 incidents the previous year, Shell said in its sustainability report.

It said in 2020, oil spills in Nigeria stood at 1,500 tonnes.

Shell is the operator of Nigeria's main onshore oil and gas joint venture SPDC which has struggled for years to contain spills in the Delta caused due to operational incidents, theft and sabotage.

A Nigerian court last month stopped Shell from selling any assets in Nigeria until a decision is reached on the company's appeal of a nearly $2bn penalty for an alleged oil spill.