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SHELL PULLS OUT OF KIRTHAR!

FoEI Lawsuit Delivers Swift Results

In early May, Shell dramatically withdrew its plans to explore for gas in Kirthar National Park, the oldest national park in Pakistan. This sudden move was welcomed by Friends of the Earth International, as we were pursuing a major legal case against Shell in Pakistani courts.

Kirthar National Park is one of Pakistan's largest protected areas, consisting of over 3,000 square kilometres of rugged mountain desert. It is home to numerous threatened species, such as the unique Sindh ibex (a mountain goat), the Urial sheep, desert wolves, striped hyena, the golden jackal, a type of gazelle, and eight species of eagle. An estimated 100,000 people live in the park, their livelihoods obtained from cultivating food and herding goats and sheep.

Shell and Premier Oil had formed a joint venture company to explore for gas in the park, despite its protected status under Pakistani wildlife laws. FoEI joined Pakistani environmental groups in April in a legal challenge against the companies in a bid to protect the park's people and nature.

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” with the environment. FoEI 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.

Although Friends of the Earth is delighted that Shell has dropped its plans for Kirthar National Park, we have not withdrawn our lawsuit against Premier. Furthermore, we will maintain pressure for Shell to withdraw its plans for the Sundarbans region in Bangladesh (see LINK 95). The environmental and human rights impacts of both projects are significant, and FoEI hopes that Shell will instead focus on promoting renewable energy resources.

Craig Bennett, FoE England, Wales and Northern Ireland and Mae Ocampo, FoEI