ROYAL DUTCH SHELL PLC – REPORT ON PAYMENTS TO GOVERNMENT FOR THE YEAR 2020
Royal Dutch Shell plc has released its Report on Payments to Governments for 2020, detailing a total of $13.12 billion paid across various countries. The report follows the UK's Reporting Regulations and reflects compliance with the EU Accounting Directive. With the largest payments made to Norway ($1.8 billion) and Nigeria ($3.24 billion), Shell's contributions include production entitlements, taxes, royalties, and infrastructure improvements. The report emphasizes transparency in payments made for extractive activities and is accessible for public viewing on Shell's website.
- Total payments to governments in 2020 amounted to $13.12 billion.
- Largest payment to Norway was $1.8 billion, reflecting Shell's significant operations there.
- Increased transparency in financial dealings with host governments through the detailed report.
- Reported a tax deduction of $106.58 million in the UK, indicating potential operational challenges.
- No dividend payments to governments were reported for the year, raising concerns about profitability.
Basis for Preparation – Report on Payments to Governments for the year 2020
This Report provides a consolidated overview of the payments to governments made by Royal Dutch Shell plc and its subsidiary undertakings (hereinafter referred to as “Shell”) for the year 2020 as required under the UK’s Report on Payments to Governments Regulations 2014 (as amended in December 2015). These UK Regulations enact domestic rules in line with Directive 2013/34/EU (the EU Accounting Directive (2013)) and apply to large UK incorporated companies like Royal Dutch Shell plc that are involved in the exploration, prospection, discovery, development and extraction of minerals, oil, natural gas deposits or other materials. This Report is also filed with the National Storage Mechanism (https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism) intended to satisfy the requirements of the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules of the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Following the UK’s exit from the EU and the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020, this Report is also published pursuant to article 5:25e of the Dutch FMSA (Wft).
This Report is available for download from www.shell.com/payments.
Legislation
This Report is prepared in accordance with The Reports on Payments to Governments Regulations 2014 as enacted in the UK in December 2014 and as amended in December 2015.
Reporting entities
This Report includes payments to governments made by Royal Dutch Shell plc and its subsidiary undertakings (Shell). Payments made by entities where Shell has joint control are excluded from this Report.
Activities
Payments made by Shell to governments arising from activities involving the exploration, prospection, discovery, development and extraction of minerals, oil and natural gas deposits or other materials (extractive activities) are disclosed in this Report. It excludes payments related to refining, natural gas liquefaction or gas-to-liquids activities. For a fully integrated project, which does not have an interim contractual cut-off point where a value can be attached or ascribed separately to the extractive activities and to other processing activities, payments to governments will not be artificially split but are disclosed in full.
Government
Government includes any national, regional or local authority of a country, and includes a department, agency or entity that is a subsidiary of a government, including a national oil company.
Project
Payments are reported at project level except that payments that are not attributable to a specific project are reported at entity level. Project is defined as operational activities which are governed by a single contract, licence, lease, concession or similar legal agreement, and form the basis for payment liabilities with a government. If such agreements are substantially interconnected, those agreements are to be treated as a single project.
“Substantially interconnected” means forming a set of operationally and geographically integrated contracts, licences, leases or concessions or related agreements with substantially similar terms that are signed with a government giving rise to payment liabilities. Such agreements can be governed by a single contract, joint venture, production sharing agreement, or other overarching legal agreement. Indicators of integration include, but are not limited to, geographic proximity, the use of shared infrastructure and common operational management.
Payment
The information is reported under the following payment types.
Production entitlements
These are the host government’s share of production in the reporting period derived from projects operated by Shell. This includes the government’s share as a sovereign entity or through its participation as an equity or interest holder in projects within its sovereign jurisdiction (home country). Production entitlements arising from activities or interests outside of its home country are excluded.
In certain contractual arrangements, typically a production sharing contract, a government through its participation interest may contribute funding of capital and operating expenditure to projects, from which it derives production entitlement to cover such funding (cost recovery).
Such cost recovery production entitlement is included.
In situations where a government settles Shell’s income tax obligation on behalf of Shell by utilising its share of production entitlements (typically under a tax-paid concession), such amount will be deducted from the reported production entitlement.
Taxes
These are taxes paid by Shell on its income, profits or production (which include resource severance tax, and petroleum resource rent tax), including those settled by a government on behalf of Shell under a tax-paid concession. Payments are reported net of refunds. Consumption
taxes, personal income taxes, sales taxes, property and environmental taxes are excluded.
Royalties
These are payments for the rights to extract oil and gas resources, typically at a set percentage of revenue less any deductions that may be taken.
Dividends
These are dividend payments other than dividends paid to a government as an ordinary shareholder of an entity unless paid in lieu of production entitlements or royalties. For the year ended December 31, 2020, there were no reportable dividend payments to a government.
Bonuses
These are payments for bonuses. These are usually paid upon signing an agreement or a contract, or when a commercial discovery is declared, or production has commenced, or production has reached a milestone.
License fees, rental fees, entry fees and other considerations for licenses and/or concessions
These are fees and other sums paid as consideration for acquiring a licence for gaining access to an area where extractive activities are performed. Administrative government fees that are not specifically related to the extractive sector, or to access to extractive resources, are excluded. Also excluded are payments made in return for services provided by a government.
Infrastructure improvements
These are payments which relate to the construction of infrastructure (road, bridge or rail) not substantially dedicated for the use of extractive activities. Payments which are a social investment in nature, for example building of a school or hospital, are excluded.
OTHER
Operatorship
When Shell makes a payment directly to a government arising from a project, regardless of whether Shell is the operator, the full amount paid is disclosed even where Shell as the operator is proportionally reimbursed by its non-operating venture partners through a partner billing process (cash-call).
When a national oil company is the operator of a project to whom Shell makes a reportable payment, which is distinguishable in the cash-call, it is included in this Report.
Cash and in-kind payments
Payments are reported on cash basis. In-kind payments are converted to an equivalent cash value based on the most appropriate and relevant valuation method for each payment, which can be at cost or market value or such value as stated in the contract. In-kind payments are reported in both volumes and the equivalent cash value.
Materiality Level
For each payment type, total payments below
Exchange Rate
Payments made in currencies other than US Dollars are translated for this Report based on the foreign exchange rate at the relevant quarterly average rate.
| Report on Payments to Governments [1] | |||||||
| Government Reports (in USD) | |||||||
| Production Entitlement | Taxes | Royalties | Bonuses | Fees | Infrastructure Improvements | Total | |
| Countries: | |||||||
| Europe | |||||||
| Bulgaria | – | – | – | – | 155,178 | – | 155,178 |
| Italy | – | – | 67,954,715 | – | – | – | 67,954,715 |
| Norway | 1,331,302,546 | 466,790,641 | – | – | 1,458,483 | – | 1,799,551,670 |
| United Kingdom | – | -106,582,465 | – | – | 7,474,783 | – | -99,107,681 |
| Asia | |||||||
| Brunei Darussalam | – | 34,964,254 | – | – | – | – | 34,964,254 |
| China | 6,087,616 | – | 985,661 | – | – | – | 7,073,278 |
| India | 297,362 | 895,096 | 3,831,968 | – | – | – | 5,024,426 |
| Kazakhstan | 424,125,000 | 81,973,208 | – | – | – | – | 506,098,208 |
| Malaysia | 1,839,465,462 | 56,121,040 | 362,561,665 | – | 15,000,000 | – | 2,273,148,167 |
| Oman | – | 1,058,167,544 | – | 1,000,000 | 400,000 | – | 1,059,567,544 |
| Philippines | 457,129,760 | 99,551,668 | – | – | – | – | 556,681,428 |
| Qatar | 546,327,260 | 491,523,750 | – | – | – | – | 1,037,851,010 |
| Thailand | – | 304,944 | – | – | – | – | 304,944 |
| Oceania | |||||||
| Australia | – | 2,261,769 | 67,711,786 | – | 14,582,602 | 1,692,530 | 86,248,685 |
| Africa | |||||||
| Egypt | – | 34,744,632 | – | 14,998,260 | 240,000 | – | 49,982,892 |
| Nigeria | 2,277,898,173 | 440,398,429 | 446,926,575 | – | 78,000,342 | – | 3,243,223,518 |
| Tunisia | – | 33,277,974 | 21,559,113 | – | – | – | 54,837,087 |
| North America | |||||||
| Canada | – | –2,701,310 | 14,360,567 | – | 3,536,885 | – | 15,196,142 |
| Mexico | – | – | – | – | 35,564,591 | – | 35,564,591 |
| United States | – | 53,787,917 | 612,934,421 | – | 48,370,516 | – | 715,092,854 |
| South America | |||||||
| Argentina | – | – | 21,846,119 | – | 459,455 | – | 22,305,574 |
| Bolivia | – | – | – | – | 1,574,770 | – | 1,574,770 |
| Brazil | 12,138,272 | 8,035,627 | 550,812,951 | – | 985,852,635 | – | 1,556,839,485 |
| Trinidad and Tobago | 62,884,045 | 13,904,002 | 2,284,658 | – | 9,501,505 | – | 88,574,210 |
| Total | 6,957,655,496 | 2,767,418,719 | 2,173,770,199 | 15,998,260 | 1,202,171,745 | 1,692,530 | 13,118,706,948 |
[1] This report is not corrected for rounding.
| Bulgaria | |||||||
| Government Reports (in USD) [1] | |||||||
| Production Entitlement | Taxes | Royalties | Bonuses | Fees | Infrastructure Improvements | Total | |
| Governments: | |||||||
| MINISTRY OF ENERGY OF THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA | – | – | – | – | 155,178 | – | 155,178 |
| Total | – | – | – | – | 155,178 | – | 155,178 |
| Project Reports (in USD) | |||||||
| Production Entitlement | Taxes | Royalties | Bonuses | Fees | Infrastructure Improvements | Total | |
| Projects: | |||||||
| KHAN KUBRAT | – | – | – | – | 155,178 | – | 155,178 |
| Total | – | – | – | – | 155,178 | – | 155,178 |
[1] For the definitions of any terms used in this chart (e.g. activities and payment types), please refer to pages 1-2 of the Report.
| Italy | |||||||
| Government Reports (in USD) [1] | |||||||
| Production Entitlement | Taxes | Royalties | Bonuses | Fees | Infrastructure Improvements | Total | |
| Governments: | |||||||
| BASILICATA REGION (VDA) | – | – | 37,806,512 | – | – | – | 37,806,512 |
| CALVELLO MUNICIPALITY | – | – | 1,064,170 | – | – | – | 1,064,170 |
| GRUMENTO NOVA MUNICIPALITY | – | – | 608,097 | – | – | – | 608,097 |
| MARSICO NUOVO MUNICIPALITY | – | – | 456,073 | – | – | – | 456,073 |
| VIGGIANO MUNICIPALITY | – | – | 4,218,674 | – | – | – | 4,218,674 |
| TESSORERIA PROVINICIALE DELLO STATO | – | – | 23,497,140 | – | – | – | 23,497,140 |
| MARSICOVETERE MUNICIPALITY | – | – | 152,024 | – | – | – | 152,024 |
| MONTEMURRO MUNICIPALITY | – | – | 152,024 | – | – | – | 152,024 |
| Total | – | – | 67,954,715 | – | – | – | 67,954,715 |
| Project Reports (in USD) | |||||||
| Production Entitlement | Taxes | Royalties | Bonuses | Fees | Infrastructure Improvements | Total | |
| Projects: | |||||||
| ITALY UPSTREAM ASSET | – | – | 67,954,715 | – | – | – | 67,954,715 |
| Total | – | – | 67,954,715 | – | – | – | 67,954,715 |
[1] For the definitions of any terms used in this chart (e.g. activities and payment types), please refer to pages 1-2 of the Report.
| Norway | ||||||||
| Government Reports (in USD) [1] | ||||||||
| Production Entitlement | Taxes | Royalties | Bonuses | Fees | Infrastructure Improvements | Total | ||
| Governments: | ||||||||
| OLJEDIREKTORATET | – | – | – | – | 1,458,483 | – | 1,458,483 | |
| PETORO AS | 785,580,079 | [A] | – | – | – | – | – | 785,580,079 |
| SKATTE OG AVGIFTSREGNSKAP | – | 465,771,439 | – | – | – | – | 465,771,439 | |
| SKATTEOPPKREVEREN I SOLA | – | 1,019,202 | – | – | – | – | 1,019,202 | |
| EQUINOR ASA | 545,722,467 | [B] | – | – | – | – | – | 545,722,467 |
| Total | 1,331,302,546 | 466,790,641 | – | – | 1,458,483 | – | 1,799,551,670 | |
| Project Reports (in USD) | ||||||||
| Production Entitlement | Taxes | Royalties | Bonuses | Fees | Infrastructure Improvements | Total | ||
| Projects: | ||||||||
| ORMEN LANGE | 1,331,302,546 | [C] | – | – | – | – | – | 1,331,302,546 |
| GAUPE | – | – | – | – | 542,692 | – | 542,692 | |
| NORWAY EXPLORATION PROJECTS | – | – | – | – | 915,792 | – | 915,792 | |
| Entity level payment: | ||||||||
| A/S NORSKE SHELL | – | 466,790,641 | – | – | – | – | 466,790,641 | |
| Total | 1,331,302,546 | 466,790,641 | – | – | 1,458,483 | – | 1,799,551,670 | |
[1] For the definitions of any terms used in this chart (e.g. activities and payment types), please refer to pages 1-2 of the Report.
[A] Includes payment in kind of
[B] Includes payment in kind of
[C] Includes payment in kind of
| United Kingdom | |||||||
| Government Reports (in USD) [1] | |||||||
| Production Entitlement | Taxes | Royalties | Bonuses | Fees | Infrastructure Improvements | Total | |
| Governments: | |||||||
| OIL AND GAS AUTHORITY | – | – | – | – | 7,175,363 | – | 7,175,363 |
| HM REVENUE AND CUSTOMS | – | –106,582,465 | – | – | – | – | -106,582,465 |
| THE CROWN ESTATE SCOTLAND | – | – | – | – | 299,420 | – | 299,420 |
| Total | – | -106,582,465 | – | – | 7,474,783 | – | -99,107,681 |
| Project Reports (in USD) | |||||||
| Production Entitlement | Taxes | Royalties | Bonuses | Fees | Infrastructure Improvements | Total | |
| Projects: | |||||||
| BRENT AND OTHER NORTHERN NORTH SEA PROJECTS | – | -73,042,801 | – | – | 508,815 | – | -72,533,986 |
| ONEGAS WEST | – | – | – | – | 1,964,754 | – | 1,964,754 |
| UK EXPLORATIONS PROJECTS | – | – | – | – | 624,774 | – | 624,774 |
| UK OFFSHORE OPERATED | – | -12,189,657 | – | – | 895,709 | – | -11,293,949 |
| UK OFFSHORE NON-OPERATED | – | – | – | – | 263,839 | – | 263,839 |
| WEST OF SHETLAND NON-OPERATED | – | – | – | – | 126,954 | – | 126,954 |
| Entity level payment: | |||||||
| SHELL U.K. LIMITED |
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FAQ
What were Shell's total payments to governments in 2020?
Shell's total payments to governments in 2020 amounted to $13.12 billion.
Which country received the largest payment from Shell in 2020?
Norway received the largest payment, totaling $1.8 billion.
Did Shell report any dividends paid to governments in 2020?
No dividend payments to governments were reported for the year 2020.
How much did Shell pay in taxes to the UK government in 2020?
Shell reported a tax deduction of $106.58 million in the UK in 2020.
What types of payments are included in Shell's report to governments?
The report includes production entitlements, taxes, royalties, bonuses, fees, and infrastructure improvements.
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