Energy Transition Takes a Backseat as Shell Rewards Shareholders

Shell paid out more than £18.7bn to shareholders in 2024 while cutting spending on renewable energy according to its full year results. The FTSE 100 giant reported a dip in earnings from £23bn in 2023 to £19.1bn in 2024 amid weaker oil prices and lower demand for fossil fuels. Despite the drop-off in earnings, Shell said on Thursday it had hiked dividends by four per cent in the fourth quarter and announced a £2.8bn share buyback programme, which it expects to be completed by its first quarter results for 2025. Chief executive…