Record annual profits to be announced by Shell tomorrow should be used towards paying off a bill estimated at more than $20bn (£10bn) for the damage caused by its oil activities to local communities and the wider environment, according to an alliance of human rights and green groups including Friends of the Earth (FoE)...Shell said last night the report's claims "neither reflect the realities of the situation and the very real progress made, nor represent the views of the wider communities around these locations. Shell is committed to being a good neighbour and maintains productive relationships with many local communities and their representatives. For example, pipelines are being replaced at SAPREF (Durban) in South Africa and more than 30% of the flares are out in Nigeria with the remainder to be stopped in 2009."