|
wednesday 9 may
2001
shell pulls out of pakistan national
park
Shell is dropping plans to explore for gas in
Kirthar National Park in Pakistan. The oil
giant has announced a "re-alignment of their
Pakistan business portfolio". The sudden move
has been greeted with delight by Friends of
the Earth International, which was pursuing a
major legal case against Shell in the
Pakistani courts.
Kirthar National Park is one of Pakistan's
largest protected areas, stretching over 3087
square kilometres of rugged mountain desert
in the southern province of Sindh. It is home
to numerous threatened species, such as the
unique Sindh ibex (a mountain goat) and the
Urial sheep, and to desert wolves, striped
hyena, golden jackal,"Chinkara" (a type of
gazelle), and no less than eight species of
eagle.
Shell and Premier Oil had formed a joint
venture company (Premier-Shell Pakistan) to
explore for gas in the park, despite its
protected status under Pakistani wildlife
laws. Section 15 of the Sindh Wildlife
Protection Ordinance states that the
"...clearing or breaking up of any land for
cultivation, mining or for any other purpose"
is prohibited.
Friends of the Earth International was
concerned that Shell was seeking to avoid
respecting the wildlife law. Under the
current military regime in Pakistan, laws can
be amended without reference to Parliament.
Earlier this year, the Governor of Sindh
province, Mohammed Mian Soomro - a director
of Shell-Pakistan until he became Governor
last year - amended the wildlife laws to
allow pipeline construction in the park. The
oil minister in the Federal military
Government, Usman Aminuddin, is a former
director of a Shell subsidiary.
Friends of the Earth International (FOEI),
the world's largest environmental network,
last month joined Pakistani environment
groups in a legal challenge against Shell in
a bid to protect wildlife in the park from
big business. In written evidence to the
court, Royal Dutch Shell had sought to play
down environmental fears by citing examples
of where it claims the oil and gas industry
has operated in "harmonious coexistence" and
"perfect harmony" with the environment [1].
But FOEI last month submitted a 380-page
dossier of evidence to the contrary,
including a detailed synopsis of the
appalling environmental and human rights
abuses associated with the industry in
Nigeria.
Shell has now announced that it will be
swapping its controversial 49.9% holding in
Premier-Shell-Pakistan for a Premier holding
in an alternative Pakistan gas development
project. The Bhit development is in the
so-called "Kirthar concession", but nowhere
near Kirthar National Park.
Shell's announcement is likely to shift
attention from Shell to Premier Oil, which is
already facing controversy over its
operations in Burma. But Shell still has a
stake in other controversial projects,
including exploration for oil and gas in the
Sunderbans region of Bangladesh - home to
endangered tigers.
Craig Bennett, Habitats Campaigner for
Friends of the Earth said:
"We're delighted that Shell has dropped
plans to explore for gas in Pakistan's oldest
protected area. But we're outraged that
Premier Oil are still prepared to exploit
this fantastic wildlife haven. Shell must now
scrap its plans for oil exploration in tiger
territory in Bangladesh.
"Shell should avoid making these damaging
decisions in the first place. It should give
a cast-iron guarantee to stay out of
protected areas, and to invest the money in
renewable energy instead".
Farhan Anwar, of the Pakistani NGO
Shehri-Citizens for a Better Environment,
said:
"Exploration for gas in Kirthar National
Park is illegal. Pakistani law clearly
prohibits any kind of mining or exploration
activity in protected areas. We welcome the
fact that Shell has now pulled out. But how
on earth can Premier Oil defend its intention
to stay? We call on British investors in
Premier to demand that this company starts
taking its social and environmental
responsibilities seriously".
Notes to editors:
[1] Extracted from the Affidavit filed in
the High Court of Sindh, Karachi, Pakistan,
by "Premier & Shell Pakistan B.V. Holland
through Premier Exploration Pakistan Ltd",
Constitutional Petition number 1986/2000.
A copy of the
affidavi
t filed against Shell is
available.
Photos of Kirthar National Park are
available, by email, on request.
(including a photo of a sign at the entrance
of Kirthar National Park which clearly states
that the "Clearing or breaking up of any land
for cultivation, mining or for any other
purpose" is prohibited.)
Contacts:
Craig Bennett
FoE England, Wales and Northern Ireland
Tel: 44 20 7566 1667
Pager: 07654 588 862
E-mail: craigb@foe.co.uk
Paul de Clerck
FoE Netherlands
Tel: 31 20 550 7300
E-mail: Paul.de.Clerck@milieudefensie.nl
|
