Moscow (Platts)–19Sep2006
Talks between Russian Gazprom and Shell over a stake in the Dutch company’s Sakhalin-2 project stalled over a year ago because of economic uncertainties with the project, not the cancellation of an environmental permit Monday, a Gazprom spokesman said Tuesday.
“The decision of the natural resources ministry [to revoke the permit] has not affected the talks with Shell since they have seen no progress for over a year now due to uncertainly over the project’s economics,” the spokesman told Platts.
Shell was not immediately able to comment on the talks with Gazprom over a planned asset swap deal.
In July 2005, Shell agreed to exchange its up to 25% plus one share in the Sakhalin-2 project for 50% of the gas giant’s Zapolyarnoye Neocomian field in July 2005. But a week after the memorandum was signed, Shell said costs of the second stage of the Sakhalin project, which is being developed under a production-sharing agreement, could nearly double from the initial $12 billion to $20 billion.
Gazprom and Shell officials said earlier this year the talks were difficult but expected the deal to be closed by year-end.
The natural resources ministry on Monday revoked the order which approved the state environmental conclusion for Sakhalin-2 Phase 2 in 2003, and required a new permit to be issued before operations under Phase 2 could resume.
Sakhalin Energy, the project operator, Monday said there were no grounds to revoke the ecological permit and warned that the move could delay the project implementation.
On Tuesday a Sakhalin Energy spokesman said the company had not yet received an official notification from the ministry and the work under Phase 2 continued normally.
The project’s second stage envisages the start of full-year oil production from Piltun-Astokhskoye in 2007, and gas production and liquefaction at a new 9.6 million mt/year LNG plant, with LNG shipments set to start in 2008.
Shell holds a 55% stake in Sakhalin Energy, with Mitsui (25%) and Mitsubishi (20%) holding the remaining shares.
–Anna Shiryaevskaya, [email protected]
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Royal Dutch Shell conspired directly with Hitler, financed the Nazi Party, was anti-Semitic and sold out its own Dutch Jewish employees to the Nazis. Shell had a close relationship with the Nazis during and after the reign of Sir Henri Deterding, an ardent Nazi, and the founder and decades long leader of the Royal Dutch Shell Group. His burial ceremony, which had all the trappings of a state funeral, was held at his private estate in Mecklenburg, Germany. The spectacle (photographs below) included a funeral procession led by a horse drawn funeral hearse with senior Nazis officials and senior Royal Dutch Shell directors in attendance, Nazi salutes at the graveside, swastika banners on display and wreaths and personal tributes from Adolf Hitler and Reichsmarschall, Hermann Goring. Deterding was an honored associate and supporter of Hitler and a personal friend of Goring.
Deterding was the guest of Hitler during a four day summit meeting at Berchtesgaden. Sir Henri and Hitler both had ambitions on Russian oil fields. Only an honored personal guest would be rewarded with a private four day meeting at Hitler’s mountain top retreat.
IN JULY 2007, MR BILL CAMPBELL (ABOVE, A RETIRED GROUP AUDITOR OF SHELL INTERNATIONAL SENT AN EMAIL TO EVERY UK MP AND MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS: 
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A head-cut image of Alfred Donovan (now deceased) appears courtesy of The Wall Street Journal.
