Shell PLC's (LSE:SHEL, NYSE:SHEL) annual general meeting was delayed after climate protestors disrupted proceedings for more than an hour.
After some initial shouting and jeering a group of activists headed towards the stage where the Shell board was assembled and launched into a chorus of “Go to hell, Shell”, to the tune of 'Hit the Road Jack' by Ray Charles, trying to outdo protestors at the recent Barclays AGM who adapted a Spice Girls tune to make their opposition in song.
BREAKING - Shell AGM disruption has started - This is going to be BIG - #ShellMustFall
Time to deliver the verdict of the #PeoplesHealthTribunal and demand #ReparativeJustice for frontline communities resiting their deadly projects pic.twitter.com/uZKrVkgPEv
— XR Money Rebellion ????????????️⚧️ (@money_rebellion) May 23, 2023
Shell's chair Andrew Mackenzie repeatedly asked the protestors to sit down.
The song was followed by a chant of “shut down Shell”, and “we hate Jackdaw” - a reference to its North Sea oil field.
“We have heard you loud and clear,” Mackenzie said.
Wild scenes at the Shell AGM. We’re 70 mins in and chair Mackenzie still hasn’t been able to get through introductory remarks. At one point two protestors appeared to try to storm the stage, prompting the Shell security team to briefly form a human shield around the Shell board pic.twitter.com/77FMoecGMH
— Tom Wilson (@thomas_m_wilson) May 23, 2023
Security staff rushed to the front of the meeting to shield the board as a scuffle broke out.
“We want the debate,” Mackenzie said as security removed dozens of people.
The energy giant has faced a growing backlash from shareholders due to dissatisfaction with the oil giant's climate efforts.
At least four pension pension schemes have signalled their intention to vote against the firm's directors at the meeting, including the Church of England Pensions Board, Brunel Pensions Partnership, Nest and London CIV.