In 2023, Shell PLC paid a total of $28.1 billion to governments in 24 countries with upstream operations, with Nigeria receiving the highest share at $5.34 billion. These payments included production entitlements ($11.39 billion), taxes ($10.46 billion), royalties ($4.32 billion), and fees ($1.91 billion).
Shell’s report excludes payments from refining and non-majority-controlled entities and only includes amounts above $114,500, as required by UK law.Shell’s SPDC JV, with 15 onshore and 3 shallow-water OMLs, faced frequent spills, mostly blamed on theft. Shell sold SPDC in March 2025 to exit onshore operations and focus on Deepwater and Gas.
It pledged $6B for Nigeria, mainly for Bonga oilfield expansion. Oman remained Shell’s second-largest payment recipient in 2024, receiving $4.59B.Brazil ranked third with $3.7 billion, comprising $327.69 million in production entitlements, $656.74 million in taxes, and $1.15 billion in royalties.
