In 2019, Royal Dutch Shell Plc. posted a drop in greenhouse gas emissions due to asset sales. However, the flaring increased despite the target to lower.
Last year, Shell’s direct emissions dropped to 70 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent from 71 million in 2018. The level was the lowest since 2016.
The decrease was supported by the company’s divestments in many countries, including Argentina, Canada, Iraq, Malaysia, Norway, and the UK. However, the prelude floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility’s startup in Australia partly offset the decline.
Emissions from the routine flaring practice climbed by 700,000 tons to 5.9 million tons of CO2 equivalent, despite Shell signing the World Bank’s Zero Routine Flaring by 2030.
The emissions of flaring had, however, cut by half between 2016 to 2019.
Shell said the company is trying to reduce the practice to as low as reasonably practicable and will still link bonuses to emissions management.
Leaks from methane slumped by 1,000 tons year-on-year to 91,000 tons, the lowest number since at least 2010. Direct emissions from the company’s integrated gas business soared to the highest since at least 2016 even after an overall decline in its carbon footprint.
The volume of operational crude spills went down to 200 tons last year, from 900 tons in 2018. Nigeria still the biggest attributor in the spill due to significant cases of sabotage and oil theft.
Shell stated that it is committed to halving greenhouse gas emissions from its sale of energy products by 2050 from the level posted in 2016. For 2021, the company will cut 2-3% and by 2035 it plans to cut by 20%.
