· Ministry claims oil link is in danger from mudslides
· Gazprom denies move is ploy to gain Sakhalin stake
Terry Macalister
Friday August 4, 2006
Shell has clashed with the Russian government over an oil project off Sakhalin Island which has already attracted the wrath of environmentalists and run way over budget.
The latest setback comes days after Shell, BP and other western firms were hit by a back-tax claim, albeit much smaller than the one which finally sent Yukos into bankruptcy this week.