A SCOTTISH environmental activist is set to complete one week occupying a Shell oil platform at sea tomorrow.
Imogen Michel, who lives near Girvan in South Ayrshire boarded a Shell-contracted ship - the White Marlin - last week, alongside four other activists as the vessel attempted to transport an oil and gas platform to a field in the North Sea.
The action, organised by Greenpeace International, aims to persuade Shell to stop extending its oil and gas production.
However, on February 3 the campaign group was hit with an injunction from Shell’s lawyers which threatens to fine the activists and could potentially lead to two years’ jail time.
Imogen Michel said: “Every year, extreme weather takes its toll on the UK, whether it’s floods, fires or heatwaves.
“This is anything but normal. Last year’s record-breaking heatwaves killed more than 3,000 people in the UK. I was so worried about my older relatives in the south of England as they struggled through the sweltering heat.
“Time is running out for us to stabilise the devastating impact of the fossil-fuelled climate crisis, which is why I am taking a stand by occupying Shell’s huge oil platform. It’s making its way right now to greedily and recklessly extend the life of a North Sea oil field.
She added: “Not only does Shell need to stop drilling for more fossil fuels, they must also pay up for the huge climate loss and damage they have already caused.
“They must stop pursuing more oil, and make the fastest transition possible to renewable energy.
“Every single one of us needs our planet to be habitable - our lives literally depend on companies like Shell stopping drilling and paying up.”
Two more activists have now joined the original four on the platform.
It is Shell’s first new production platform in the northern North Sea for 30 years and is heading to the Penguins oil and gas field northeast of Shetland.
In total, the Penguins redevelopment is expected to unlock 80 million barrels of oil in its lifetime.
It comes after Shell announced record profits exceeding £32 billion last week, sparking calls for a harsher windfall tax on fossil fuel giants.
The company says it will pay around £1.6bn of windfall taxes to the UK and European Union.
