By Upstream staff
ExxonMobil is blocking the expansion of the Kazakhstan’s share in the Kashagan oilfield, stalling talks between the Kazakh government and the Eni-led AgipKCO consortium which is developing the Caspian Sea field, according to Russian media reports.
The Interfax news agency quoted unidentified sources as saying all other foreign members of the AgipKCO consortium had agreed on a preliminary deal which would see Kazakh state-run company KazMunaiGaz raise its stake in the project from its current 8.33% holding.
The proposed compromise, under which all consortium members would proportionally reduce their stakes, could settle a dispute over cost overruns and delays at Kashagan.
Interfax said KazMunaiGaz’ stake could double if ExxonMobil were given the final nod.
ExxonMobil has a 18.52% share in the consortium, while project leader Eni, Shell and Total have stakes of similar size.
Smaller stakes belong to ConocoPhilips, with 9.26%, and Japan’s Inpex, with 8.33%.
Many partners, including Total, have called for a swift resolution, saying a deal should be reached by the end of the year.
Eni has said the group is discussing the idea of increasing Kazakhstan’s role in the development but has given few details.
Kazakhstan has threatened to strip Eni of its leading role at Kashagan as it negotiates a new budget, which may exceed $100 billion, and timetable for pumping crude.
Kazakhstan has said securing a bigger stake in Kashagan is not its main goal but it simply wants the field to come on stream as soon as possible as the country seeks to triple its oil production.
Kashagan’s start up has been repeatedly delayedned and is not expected before 2011 or 2012.
The field is due to produce about 1 million barrels per day when it reaches peak output several years later.
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22 October 2007 01:35 GMT | last updated: 22 October 2007 06:47 GMT
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.
