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January 23rd, 2007:

The Moscow Times: Gazprom Denies Borrowing $10Bln to Finance Sakhalin-2

Wednesday, January 24, 2007. Issue 3581. Page 5.
Reuters

Gas monopoly Gazprom said reports that it was seeking a $10 billion loan to buy half the Sakhalin-2 project and assets of bankrupt firm Yukos were “wrong.”

Interfax news agency on Tuesday quoted a banking source as saying Gazprom was holding talks with bank organizers and could give a mandate within one month.

“This report is wrong,” a Gazprom spokesman said.

Gazprom agreed last month to buy into the Sakhalin-2 project by paying $7.45 billion to existing shareholders Royal Dutch Shell, Mitsui and Mitsubishi. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

The Wall Street Journal: Oil News Roundup: January 23, 2007 4:06 p.m.

Crude-oil futures rallied more than $2 a barrel and briefly topped $55 after the U.S. announced plans to double the size of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and start purchasing crude oil toward that goal.

Here is Tuesday’s roundup of oil and energy news:

* * *
RENEWABLE FUELS TO STAR IN ADDRESS: As part of his State of the Union proposal on energy, President Bush is expected to call for an increase in U.S. renewable-fuels usage to 17 billion gallons by 2015. He also will propose a new system of regulating passenger-car fuel efficiency that includes new ability for car makers to trade credits from production of more-efficient vehicles to offset sales of less-efficient ones. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

The Wall Street Journal: Shell Raises Offer for Canada Unit

By BROOKE DONOVAN
January 23, 2007 4:14 a.m.

LONDON — Royal Dutch Shell PLC Tuesday announced plans to raise its offer for the shares in Shell Canada it doesn’t already own by 12.5% to C$8.7 billion (US$7.36 billion), or C$45 a share, after coming under pressure from investors.

The U.K. oil major announced plans in October to buy the outstanding 22% stake in the unit, but investors and analysts said the original offer price of C$40 wasn’t high enough. Shell said Tuesday it has the full backing of Shell Canada’s board of directors in raising its offer to C$45 a share. Shell Canada’s shares closed Monday at C$44.91. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

The Guardian: Shell bolsters offer for Canadian offshoot

Terry Macalister
Tuesday January 23, 2007
Guardian Unlimited

Shell has been forced to raise its offer and spend £3.7bn buying out the 22% stake that it does not own in its Canadian business in a move to bolster production in the aftermath of the US reserves scandal and the forced sale of assets at Sakhalin in Russia.

The Anglo-Dutch oil group offered C$40 (£17) a share for the remaining stake in its Shell Canada operation last October but found local directors unwilling to back the bid. Shell headquarters in the Hague said that it had won local support for an improved C$45 a share proposal allowing it to obtain further control over 230,000 barrels a day. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

World Energy: What Will It Take to Attain Sustainability?

by Lord Browne of Madingley
Group Chief Executive
BP p.l.c.

World Energy, v10n1

Ten years ago, most people still derided thepossibility that human activity was having an impact on the climate. When we in BP firstspoke out on the issue in 1997, we were attacked for having left the church – for having dared to questionthe conventional wisdom of the old oil industry.

Now, the reality has been accepted by almost everyone. The debate has moved on, and the question now is not whether global warming is a real risk, but what we can do to mitigate that risk before it is too late. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

MonstersandCritic.com: Gazprom plans to borrow 10 billion dollars for Sakhalin-2 field

Jan 23, 2007, 17:35 GMT

Moscow – Russian natural gas monopoly Gazprom is looking to borrow 10 billion dollars to finance construction at Sakhalin-2, the country’s largest energy development and from which it recently obtained a 50-per cent stake from Royal Dutch Shell, Interfax reported.

The loan would go towards buying assets from ruined oil major Yukos, according to the news agency’s source, whom it identified as ‘a source in the banking world.’

‘The company is already in talks with banks, and the mandates are to be given out in a month,’ the source added. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

World Energy: What Will It Take to Attain Sustainability?

by Lord Browne of Madingley
Group Chief Executive
BP p.l.c.

World Energy, v10n1

Ten years ago, most people still derided thepossibility that human activity was having an impact on the climate. When we in BP firstspoke out on the issue in 1997, we were attacked for having left the church – for having dared to questionthe conventional wisdom of the old oil industry.

Now, the reality has been accepted by almost everyone. The debate has moved on, and the question now is not whether global warming is a real risk, but what we can do to mitigate that risk before it is too late. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Expertise of Corrib Pipeline consultants in question

Irish Times article followed by letter on the same subject…

THE ARTICLE: Irish Times: Shell hires advisers for revised gas route

Lorna Siggins, Marine Correspondent, Irish Times
Published: Jan 23, 2007

Shell E&P Ireland has hired consultants RPS to assist it in finding a modified route for the controversial Corrib gas onshore pipeline.

The company’s brief includes “consultation around the criteria for finding a modified route, surveying and mapping, engineering design, environmental assessment, procurement support and construction supervision”, Shell said yesterday in a statement. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

anphoblacht.com (Sinn Fein Weekly): Shell’s project in Ireland – The Mother of all rip-offs

http://www.anphoblacht.com/news/detail/17466
 
VINCENT McGRATH of the Rossport Five talks to ELLA O’DWYER about current developments in the Shell to Sea campaign

More than 100 Shell to Sea campaigners picketed the head office of Údarás na Gaeltachta in Furbo, outside Spiddal, in County Galway, last week to protest against the authority’s decision to give premises in North Mayo to Shell and gardaí deployed to protect the oil multinational against civil disobedience.

The premises is a 500-square metre factory in Belmullet for use by Shell (Exploration & Production) Ireland. Shell to Sea campaigners are accusing the Údarás of dismissing the health and safety implications for people living in the area worried by the Corrib gas project. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Lloyds List: Pioneering windfarm could be doomed (*yes, Shell is a partner in the debacle)

Nigel Green in Newcastle, Lloyds List
Published: Jan 23, 2007

A PIONEERING windfarm off the coast of northeast England may have to be dismantled after being plagued by technical problems.

The news comes after revelations that the two turbines installed around half a mile off the Port of Blyth in Northumberland have not been working since March last year.

The failure has been blamed on power cables bolted to the seabed being severed.

The 100 m tall turbines, which cost GBP4m ($8m) when they were installed in 2000, were part of the first offshore windfarm in Britain. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Irish Times: Shell hires advisers for revised gas route

Lorna Siggins, Marine Correspondent, Irish Times
Published: Jan 23, 2007

Shell E&P Ireland has hired consultants RPS to assist it in finding a modified route for the controversial Corrib gas onshore pipeline.

The company’s brief includes “consultation around the criteria for finding a modified route, surveying and mapping, engineering design, environmental assessment, procurement support and construction supervision”, Shell said yesterday in a statement.

Public meetings are promised as part of the lengthy procedure which the company has been pursuing since a modified route was proposed by Government mediator Peter Cassells six months ago. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Times Online: Shell clinches Canada deal

January 23, 2007
Steve Hawkes
 
Royal Dutch Shell has taken a big step towards winning full control of its business in Canada by tabling a new £3.7 billion bid for the minority shares.

 
The Anglo-Dutch oil group said that the revised offer – up to C$45 a share from C$40 – had won the “unanimous” backing of Shell Canada’s directors.

It now needs the support of half the minority shareholders for the deal to go through.

The group owns a 78 per cent stake in Shell Canada but is desperate to buy out the rest to bolster its reserves. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

allAfrica.com: Shell Puts Out Ogoni Fire, Gas Leak Remains Unchecked

Yemie Adeoye, Vanguard (Nigeria)
Published: Jan 23, 2007

THE Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) of Nigeria Limited has finally put out the wellhead fires on Bomu – 41 and 50, however, the gas leaks continue because the communities have refused to allow the company secure the wells.

A statement from the company pointed out that the development implies oil and gas continue to leak into the environment, adding that SPDC is very concerned this could ignite another fire which will be difficult to control and which could destroy the environment and harm people living in the area. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

JamesTown.Org: KREMLIN STRATEGY TARGETS WESTERN ENERGY ASSETS IN RUSSIA, WESTERN SUPPLY SOURCES IN THIRD COUNTRIES

By Vladimir Socor
Tuesday, January 23, 2007

On January 21 in Sochi, Russian President Vladimir Putin assured a skeptical Angela Merkel — visiting in a triple capacity as German Chancellor, holder of the European Union presidency, and incoming G-8 chair — about Russia’s purported reliability as an energy partner to the West.

The relevant actions, however, unfolded not in Sochi, but rather in Siberia and in Algiers, continuing Moscow’s three-pronged offensive against Western energy interests. The three tracks are: forced takeovers of Western investment projects in Russia, aggressive inroads into the West’s traditional supply sources in third countries, and acquisition of infrastructure within the West itself. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

OpEdNews.com: In Iraq, US Has Never Let Its Eye Stray from the Prize: Oil

January 23, 2007
by Nicola Nasser  

While the Iraqis were busy counting their death toll of more than 650,000 since March 2003, the United Nations busy counting their dead of more than 34,000 in 2006 only, the Pentagon counting more than 3,070 American deaths and the U.S. treasury counting more than $600 billion of taxpayer money spent so far in Iraq , stealthily and suddenly the U.S. occupation’s oil prize rang louder than the war drums to alert the regional oil producers as well as the major world consumers to guard against the looming threat coming out of Iraq. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Reuters: Shell raises Shell Canada bid

By Tom Bergin and Jonathan Cable

LONDON (Reuters) – Royal Dutch Shell Plc has raised its bid for the 22 percent of Shell Canada Ltd. it does not already own to C$8.7 billion (3.7 billion pounds), though at least one big shareholder said the higher offer was still disappointing.            

The second-largest Western oil company by market capitalisation said in a statement on Tuesday that it had increased its offer to C$45 a share in cash from the C$40 it proposed last October.

The bid was accepted by Shell Canada’s board and a special committee set up to appraise the offer. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Bloomberg: Shell Boosts Offer for Remaining Shell Canada Stake (Update4)

By Stephen Voss and Mathew Carr

Jan. 23 (Bloomberg) — Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Europe’s biggest oil company, raised an offer to buy out its Canadian unit by 13 percent to C$8.7 billion ($7.4 billion) to gain increased production from oil sands.

Shell, which owns 78 percent of Shell Canada Ltd., boosted its bid to C$45 a share, from a C$40 offer made in October, The Hague-based company said today in a PR Newswire statement. Shell Canada stock closed at C44.91 yesterday, signaling that investors were expecting an improved offer. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

OpEdNews.com: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Anna Nicole Smith Buy Raytheon Co.

by Karen Fish  
January 23, 2007

Today, January 23, 2007 the Iranian National News Agency IRNA, the Islamic Republic News Agency issued a statement from the Supreme Leader of Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said: “People of Earth. First of all I am extremely tired of seeing my name constantly misspelled in the newspapers outside of Iran. It isn’t Khomeini, Khameini, Hameini, or Chameini, it’s Khamenei. Think of it this way. The “K” which stands for “King” is silent.” read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

akm.ru: Cost of all contracts with Russian contractors under Sakhalin-2 exceed $7.6 bn.

Analytical Information Agency – Moscow, Russia

23/01/2007

The cost of all contracts with Russian contractors under the Sakhalin-2 project exceeded $7.6 bn, the project’s operator Sakhalin Energy says.

Today Sakhalin Energy has announced it has concluded a RUB 230mln contract with Aviadvigatel OJSC on the delivery of two gas-turbine pumping units. The units will become part of Booster Station N 2 which is being built under the Sakhalin-2 project near the village of Gastello (Poronaisky District). The oil-transfer pumps will be used to raise the pressure of oil in the pipeline system, which will ensure the transportation of all liquid hydrocarbons from the Piltun-Astokhskoye and Lunskoye fields to the oil export terminal in the south of Sakhalin. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Prospect Magazine: Rise of the gripe site: How two men and a website in Colchester humbled one of the oil industry giants

EXTRACT: What most astonished Shell was the detailed inside knowledge Mitvol had accumulated about the company’s abuses. Some in the company suspected industrial espionage. But it was actually information that the Donovans of Colchester were passing to Mitvol. The two men had received detailed material about Shell’s ecological abuses on Sakhalin: a catalogue of corner-cutting, mismanagement and efforts to cover up damaging evidence. They say they got this information from Shell insiders. Mitvol clearly trusted the material, and in December he admitted for the first time publicly that his deep throat on Sakhalin was John Donovan. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Guf Times (Qatar): N Field reservoir study to be completed by ’09

Published: Tuesday, 23 January, 2007, 10:17 AM Doha Time 
By Pratap John
 
DOHA: HE the Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Energy and Industry Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah has said the ongoing reservoir study at Qatar’s gas rich North Field will be completed by 2009.

Speaking to Gulf Times on the sidelines of an international GTL Conference at the Sheraton yesterday, al-Attiyah said any decision on new LNG or GTL projects would be taken only after Qatar Petroleum (QP) completes the reservoir study. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Gulf Times (Qatar): Delivery of large equipment for Pearl GTL to begin this year

Published: Tuesday, 23 January, 2007, 10:17 AM Doha Time 
By Pratap John
 
DOHA: The delivery of large equipment required for the multi-billion dollar Pearl GTL project at Ras Laffan will begin later this year, Shell’s country chairman Andrew Brown has said.

Shell is building a Material Operating Facility at Ras Laffan to handle about 3.5mn freight  tonnes of equipment and materials needed for the Qatar’s second Gas-to-Liquids project. “We are setting up the facility on behalf of Ras Laffan Industrial City. And there has been a good progress on that. This will allow us to bring material directly to Ras Laffan and avoid transportation by road. Besides saving time, it will also be a safer process,” Brown pointed out. RasGas and Qatargas among others would also be able to use the material operating facility, he said. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Reuters: Shell ups offer for outstanding Shell Canada shares (*paves way for merger with BP)

LONDON, Jan 23 (Reuters) – Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L: Quote, Profile , Research) said on Tuesday Shell Canada Limited (SHC.TO: Quote, Profile , Research) had recommended a sweetened deal worth C$8.7 billion ($7.4 billion) for the remaining 22 percent of shares it doe not own.

Oil major Shell said it had increased the offer to C$45 in cash for each Shell Canada share, having previously tabled C$40 per share.

Aiming to bolster its own reserves with Shell Canada’s Alberta oil sands holdings, the Anglo-Dutch oil firm said in October it aimed to buy out the minority. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

PR Newswire (US): Royal Dutch Shell plc Announces Recommended Offer for Minority Shares of Shell Canada

Published: Jan 23, 2007

LONDON, January 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Royal Dutch Shell plc (the ‘Group’) today announced that it has reached agreement with and obtained the unanimous recommendation of the Special Committee and Board of Directors of Shell Canada Limited on a revised offer (the ‘Offer’) to acquire all of the outstanding common shares of Shell Canada Limited (Toronto Stock Exchange, ticker symbol SHC) not owned by the Group at a cash price of CDN$45 per share. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Financial Times: Moscow plans to reserve new oilfields for state giants

By Neil Buckley in Moscow
Published: January 23 2007 02:00 | Last updated: January 23 2007 02:00

Russia is preparing to reserve control of all new offshore oil and gas fields for Gazprom and Rosneft, its state-controlled energy giants, in what analysts are calling a further example of resource nationalism.

President Vladimir Putin held a meeting with senior ministers and the heads of the two companies last week in which they studied proposals to split future offshore projects between the two state giants, according to people familiar with the discussions. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Financial Times: Developing Kashagan is painfully slow but progress is being made

By Carola Hoyos
Published: January 23 2007 02:00 | Last updated: January 23 2007 02:00

When Paolo Scaroni took over as chief executive of Eni last year, his first major overseas trip was to Texas. The newly minted head of Italy’s biggest energy group was due to see Lee Raymond, his counterpart at ExxonMobil – the energy industry’s heavy-weight group.

Exxon was not particularly pleased with its smaller European peer and MrScaroni knew he needed to mend the relationship to ensure the success of Eni as well as one of the world’s most important oil projects: the $30bn Kashagan field. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

AFX News: Australia’s Woodside says Pomboo-1 well off Kenyan coast abandoned

SYDNEY (XFN-ASIA) – Woodside Petroleum Ltd said its Pomboo-1 exploration well in Block L-5 of the offshore Lamu Basin in Kenya is been plugged and abandoned after failing to encounter hydrocarbons.

The group, 34 pct owned by the Royal Dutch Shell group, said the well reached a total depth of 4,887 meters and did not detect hydrocarbons in the primary target zone between 4,685 meters and total depth.

It said Pomboo-1 encountered in excess of 200 meters of moderate to good quality reservoir sandstones. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

New York Times: Keeping Up With Nigeria

January 23, 2007
Op-Ed Contributor
By KARIN LISSAKERS

IN the last six months, media coverage, Congressional hearings, lawsuits by private citizens and a scathing report by the Interior Department’s inspector general have exposed a litany of failures in the department’s management of oil and gas leases on public lands and waters.

These failures have lost the government billions of dollars in royalties. They have become so glaring, in fact, that there is even speculation that the president, a good friend to the energy industry, might speak about them in his State of the Union address tonight. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Daily Telegraph: Time may be right for fresh look at proposed mega-merger of BP and Shell

By Russell Hotten
Last Updated: 12:46am GMT 23/01/2007

Speculation about a merger between oil giants BP and Royal Dutch Shell refuses to go away, largely because many analysts, investors and also some executives at the two companies have always thought it quite a good idea.

But how to do it? That is the question.

Both companies have given the mega-merger much consideration over the years but their dreams of doing a deal have always foundered on the reality of regulatory and political hurdles, long before they ever got to face-to-face talks. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

The Independent: Hambro shares rise after Russian gold row resolved

By James Moore
Published: 23 January 2007

Russia’s third-largest gold producer yesterday provided some reassurance to investors made skittish by a nasty brush with the authorities in Moscow.

Peter Hambro Mining said total attributable gold production in 2006 beat its expectations by rising 5 per cent to 262,000 ounces.

The company also said recovery rates remained stable thanks to technological improvements and that the average realised gold sales price of $586 per ounce was a third higher than in 2000. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.