News and information on Shell PLC
By Staff reporter3 October 2018
Shell has decided to focus its Argentine business on drilling for oil and gas in the country’s huge Vaca Muerta shale play and has sold off its downstream assets in Argentina to pay for it.
The assets, which include service stations and asphalt production, were sold to Brazil’s Raizen for $916 million.
SOURCE
Shell said that it was selling its downstream business in Argentina, which includes 645 petrol stationsMARCOS BRINDICCI/REUTERS
Royal Dutch Shell has agreed to offload its refining and marketing business in Argentina to its Brazilian joint venture for $950 million.
In the latest stage of a $30 billion divestment programme, the Anglo-Dutch energy group said that it was selling its downstream business in Argentina, which includes a refinery in Buenos Aires, 645 petrol stations and operations selling liquefied petroleum gas, marine and aviation fuels.
By Daniel J. Graeber: April 24, 2018
April 24 (UPI) — The Vaca Muerta shale formation in Argentina has substantial growth potential remaining, Shell said Tuesday after it unloaded its downstream business.
For close to $1 billion in cash, Royal Dutch Shell said it was selling off everything from its retail service stations to its refinery in Buenos Aires to Raízen, the third largest energy company in Brazil. After the close, Shell will still have a footprint in the downstream, or refinery side, of the energy sector in Argentina.
Reuters Staff: APRIL 24, 2018
April 24 (Reuters) – Royal Dutch Shell PLC:
* SHELL – SHELL TO SELL ITS DOWNSTREAM BUSINESS IN ARGENTINA TO RAÍZEN
* SHELL – SALE INCLUDES BUENOS AIRES REFINERY, AROUND 645 RETAIL STATIONS, LPG, MARINE FUELS, AVIATION FUELS, BITUMEN, CHEMICALS AND LUBRICANTS BUSINESSES
* SHELL – SALE DOES NOT INCLUDE SHELL’S UPSTREAM INTERESTS IN THE VACA MUERTA SHALE FORMATION
* SHELL – BUSINESSES ACQUIRED BY RAÍZEN WILL CONTINUE RELATIONSHIPS WITH SHELL THROUGH COMMERCIAL AGREEMENTS, REPRESENTING ESTIMATED VALUE OF $0.3 BILLION.* SHELL SAYS “SEES SUBSTANTIAL LONG-TERM GROWTH POTENTIAL IN ARGENTINA’S SHALE RESOURCES” Source text (go.shell.com/2qUesxW) Further company coverage:
Shell put the 630 Argentine gas stations up for sale as part of a £23.5billion divestment plan intended to balance the books in the wake of its takeover of BG Group.
Brazil’s Raizen Energia, a subsidiary of Shell, has outbid rivals including Argentina’s YPF, Chile’s Quinenco and China’s CNPC, Reuters reported, citing unidentified sources.
Shell and Cosan each own 50% of Raizen, which controls Brazil’s second largest chain of gas stations.
Shell said it would not comment on potential deals. Raízen also declined to comment.
Royal Dutch Shell (RDS.A, RDS.B) plans to focus on three bidders this month for its downstream oil assets in Argentina after drawing eight non-binding bids of $1B-$2B, Bloomberg reports.
The shortlisted suitors will enter the next phase of the sales process in the next 2-3 weeks, with Chile’s Grupo Luksic among the most appealing of the companies making offers, according to the report.
Shell put the assets, which include an oil refinery near Buenos Aires and ~600 refueling stations, up for sale earlier this year after a strategic review under the company’s $30B divestment plan to reduce debt.
Royal Dutch Shell PLC inaugurated on Tuesday a treatment plant for shale oil and gas in Argentina’s Vaca Muerta shale play, one of the world’s largest.
The plant, announced in 2014, has a capacity to process up to 10,000 barrels per day from the Sierras Blancas, Cruz de Lorena and Coiron Amargo Sur Oeste blocks operated by Shell, the company said in a statement.
“(The plant) receives output from the wells of these blocks, processing the oil and gas to leave it ready for commercialization,” the statement said.
* Shell to boost shale output by 140,000 bpoed by 2020
* Shell shale output profitable at average oil price $40/bbl
* Argentina shale development decision in 18 months
By Ron Bousso and Ernest Scheyder HOUSTON, March 7 (Reuters) – Royal Dutch Shell is ramping its North American shale output earlier than planned to lock in quick returns from what has become one of its most profitable businesses, the head of Shell’s unconventional energy business said. The Anglo-Dutch company plans to make shale oil and gas in the United States, Canada and Argentina a key engine of growth in the next decade, targeting output of around 500,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd), Greg Guidry told Reuters in an interview.A drive to cut the cost of producing oil and gas from U.S. shale deposits has proven so effective that Shell has accelerated development plans, Guidry said on the sidelines of the CERAWeek industry conference in Houston.
It aims to boost output by 140,000 boepd over the next three years in the Permian basin in West Texas and the Duvernay region in Canada, said Guidry, an executive vice president.
Shell estimates annual Argentina investment of $300 million through 2020Thu Sep 29, 2016 | 8:50pm BS
Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L) plans to invest $300 million a year in Argentina through 2020 in exploration as well as refining, distribution and marketing, the company said in a statement on Thursday.
The announcement came after Shell Chief Executive Ben van Beurden met with Argentine President Mauricio Macri in Buenos Aires. Shell has been working to launch an early production well in Argentina’s Vaca Muerta shale reserves.
(Reporting by Juliana Castilla; Writing by Caroline Stauffer; Editing by Peter Cooney)
September 29, 2016
Baku-APA. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries’ (OPEC) agreement to freeze daily oil output will not affect Royal Dutch Shell ‘s current strategy, a spokesman for one of the world’s largest oil companies told Sputnik on Thursday, APA reports quoting Sputnik.
On Wednesday, OPEC oil producing countries agreed a preliminary deal on the sidelines of an international energy forum in Algiers, Algeria. The output ceiling was set at 32.5-33 million barrels a day for the whole cartel.
Argentina’s Energy and Mining Minister, Juan Jose Aranguren, has sold his shares of Royal Dutch Shell Plc following criticism from anti-graft authorities, President Mauricio Macri said.
Aranguren, formerly the chief executive officer of Shell Argentina, sold his shares in the company, Macri said in an interview with Bloomberg TV on Tuesday. Earlier, the minister was excused from all dealings with Shell in Argentina, according to a decree published in the official gazette. The minister, who owned $16 million pesos ($1 million) shares in the company according to reports of his tax documents for 2015, received a non-binding recommendation on Monday from the anti-graft office to sell his stock.
By ASSOCIATED PRESS: PUBLISHED: 20:54, 12 September 2016
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Argentina’s anti-corruption office is asking the country’s energy minister to sell his stock in Royal Dutch Shell, where he was an executive of the local branch.
Juan Jose Aranguren became energy minister in December. He has faced growing criticism for continuing to own a reported $1.1 million in Shell’s class A shares.
The head of Argentina’s anti-corruption office said Monday that Aranguren should get rid of his stock or set up a blind trust to handle his finances.
Sep 8 2016, 08:38 ET | By: Carl Surran, SA News Editor
Royal Dutch Shell (RDS.A, RDS.B) is considering selling ~600 gas stations in Argentina as part of a strategic review of its downstream assets in the country, Business Times reports.
Shell CEO Ben van Beurden said at a conference in New York yesterday that the company is in the middle of a strategic review of its downstream assets in Argentina as part of a $30B divestment program.
Shell has market share of 19% in Argentina for gas stations, making it the second biggest seller after state-owned YPF.
Thursday, September 8, 2016
Energy giant Royal Dutch Shell is evaluating whether to sell part of its assets in Argentina, the company said yesterday.
According to Executive President Ben van Beurden, refineries, transporting and distribution assets in the country could be put up for sale as part of a massive global disvestment programme worth an estimate US$30 billion. The move amounts to a massive revision of the firm’s “downstream” services, van Beurden said during a conference in New York.
Tuesday, June 14, 2016
Energy giant Shell is already expanding its business in the sector’s marquee Vaca Muerta formation, echoing other private firms who have gained traction in the country’s oil sector following President Mauricio Macri’s arrival in office six months ago.
But each of Shell’s positive announcements in the country come with an almost automatic question mark — addressing the company’s relationship with its previous CEO and current Energy Minister Juan José Aranguren.
Thursday, June 9, 2016
The sworn declarations of the assets belonging to the officials of the Mauricio Macri presidency (presented last Thursday at the Anti-Corruption Office) reveal varying degrees of wealth among a total of of over 430 million pesos but no item had more impact than the 16 million pesos worth of shares retained in Shell by Energy and Mining Minister Juan José Aranguren because it also represents a conflict of interest.
But Aranguren (with a 38-year career in Shell, whose local branch he headed for 12 years until last December when he joined Macri’s Cabinet) has no plans to shed the shares. Ministry spokesmen hastened to defend the situation of controlling the oil industry while owning shares in one of its companies by arguing: “The only restriction imposed by the law is that the minister cannot take specific decisions concerning Shell as a company previously employing him.”
While Royal Dutch Shell PLC has announced ten days ago an annual drop of its global sales in the first quarter by 83%, its Argentine subsidiary is filling the pockets of its mother company and the Dutch crown with the help of Energy Minister José Luis Aranguren. Since his appointment by President Mauricio Macri at last 10th December, Mr. Aranguren, Shell Argentina CEO from 2003 to 2015, and 2009-15 with downstream responsibility for the whole of South America, pursuits a policy which extremely benefits his company, and sows hatred and resentment.
Dear John,
It has taken some time to send you my promised request for information, but I’m now fulfilling my commitment.
I’m an Argentinian independent journalist. Usually, I write on international Politics, and in this job I regularly check your site. In recent times, however, I note the absence of references to the enormous political engagement of Shell in the new Argentinian government.
Usually, I write on international Politics, and in this job I regularly check your site. In recent times, however, I note the absence of references to the enormous political engagement of Shell in the new Argentinian government.
Royal Dutch Shell Plc’s Argentine unit was accused of conspiring against the country’s interests by Cabinet Chief Jorge Capitanich after the oil producer increased fuel prices following a devaluation of the peso. “Shell’s attitude and the one from its highest executive is conspiratorial and against the interests of the country,” Capitanich told reporters this morning in Buenos Aires. “The only explanation for this behavior is greediness.”
Feb 3, 2014 7:08 PM GMT
Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSA)’s Argentine unit was accused of conspiring against the country’s interests by Cabinet Chief Jorge Capitanich after the oil producer increased fuel prices following a devaluation of the peso.
Shell boosted prices an average 12 percent at its service stations, which represent 18 percent of the Argentine market, the company said in an e-mailed statement published by local newspapers today. The company’s previous price increase of 6.8 percent was on Jan. 2, before Argentina moved to weaken the peso 15 percent from Jan. 22 to Jan. 23, the largest drop since 2002.
By John Donovan
Printed below is a news report about the largest ever oil spill in fresh water. Shell was responsible for the spill, which occurred in the River Plate on January 15, 1999, polluting drinking water and local wildlife.
The Municipality of Magdalena and some groups of inhabitants of the small town with a population of around 8,000 initiated claims against Shell (owner of the oil and the ship responsible for the spill). All these years later some of the resultant litigation is still in progress. Many inhabitants of Magdalena were under age at the time of the oil spill and are still waiting for justice to decide on their claim.
Shell has agreed to partner with Argentina's Medanito on a shale oil and natural gas project in southwestern Argentina, with plans to invest at least $200 million over the next five years, a person involved in the deal said Thursday.
By Dan Molinski Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES MARCH 18, 2010, 9:28 A.M. ET
CARACAS (Dow Jones)–Royal Dutch Shell PLC (RDSB) moved Thursday to clear up what it calls a “misunderstanding” regarding sharply critical remarks of Venezuela reportedly made by one of the oil company’s top officials.
Shell on Tuesday said international oil majors have mostly lost interest in investing in Venezuela, according to Reuters news agency, following leftist President Hugo Chavez’s nationalization of assets in recent years.
The complaint calls for immediate action by the company to redress the social and environmental harms caused to the community and to the local environment by the refinery at the Polo Petroquímico Dock Sud during decades of abuse and irresponsible corporate behavior.
Frank Glaviano Sr., Shell's vice president of exploration and production, has been selected as the new Chairman of the Louisiana Mid Continent Oil and Gas Association, the group announced this morning.
THE TIMES (UK): Need to Know
May 13, 2005
Repsol YPF, the Spanish- Argentine oil and gas group, said that it was in talks with private equity companies over a joint bid for the liquefied petroleum gas unit of Royal Dutch/Shell, which could be worth up to €3 billion (£2 billion).
DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
Posted 19 August 04
The sale of the Peruvian unit is part of Shell’s broader divestment plan, aimed at axing the company’s less profitable units. The company has also sold subsidiaries in Venezuela and Portugal recently.
In Argentina, reports say that Shell ‘s 900 service stations and its refinery plants are the potential target of a joint bid by Petroleos de Venezuela SA, or PdVSA (PVZ.YY), and Argentina’s new state-run company ENARSA. PdVSA has long spoken about acquiring service stations in Argentina.
Posted 18 August 04
Petroleos de Venezuela SA, South America’s largest oil producer, is studying the purchase of Royal Dutch/Shell Group’s chain of Argentine gasoline stations in a venture with that country’s state oil company, Venezuelan Energy and Mines Minister Rafael Ramirez said.
“A joint venture, with the new oil company of Argentina, is one of the possibilities,” Ramirez said, responding to a question about a possible purchase after a press conference in Caracas, Petroleos de Venezuela’s headquarters. Carlos Garcia, a spokesman for Shell in Argentina, declined to comment.
DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
August 3, 2004 12:58 p.m.
Posted 4 August 04
BUENOS AIRES — Argentina’s government will raise oil export duties again if the international oil price remains above $42 per barrel, Planning Minister Julio de Vido confirmed Tuesday.
“The decision is already taken,” De Vido told reporters at a news conference. He said the measure is being designed by the Economy Ministry and will be enacted over the next few days.
The move is part of an attempt to prevent fresh fuel price rises, after Argentina’s four main fuel producers lifted gasoline and diesel prices over the last ten days.
DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
July 27, 2004 6:42 p.m.
Posted 28 July 04
BUENOS AIRES — The Argentine unit of Shell (RD) announced Tuesday that it was lifting gasoline prices by 1.4% and diesel prices by 2.9% as of midnight Wednesday.
The measure was confirmed by a Shell spokesman, who said the company had acted because of the “sustained high international oil price.”
The move follows the decision by the local unit of Exxon Mobil (XOM) SA on the weekend to push through a similar price increase. The hikes in gasoline prices are the first such increases since refiners and producers signed a government brokered price-steadying accord in January 2003.
By LAURENCE NORMAN
May 20, 2004 1:06 p.m.
Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
Posted 21 May 04
BUENOS AIRES — A late night phone call between Argentina’s President Nestor Kirchner and Alfonso Cortina, president of oil giant Repsol YPF SA (REP), has transformed the rules of the game in the local oil sector and squeezed refiners into a lose-lose situation.
Late Tuesday, while producers and refiners were still working on a new version of a fuel price accord that would have seen fuel prices raised for the first time in 16 months, Kirchner asked Cortina to block the hikes, according to an industry official.
This is not a Shell website. That fact should be abundantly plain from the overall content of this home page and our sister Shell-focussed websites, including shellnazihistory.com. Click on the Disclaimer link at top of this page for more information. You Can Be Sure Shell does not endorse or approve of this website. There are no subscription charges nor do we solicit or accept donations. It is an entirely free to use website drawing attention to the negative side of Shell while also publishing positive news about the company. The Shell logo image with the white text used on this website, as per the above example, is in the public domain because its copyright has expired and its author is anonymous. It can be found on WIKIMEDIA COMMONS. Our shellenergy.website publishes Shell Energy customer complaints posted on Trustpilot where there is an ample supply. Use this link for Shell’s own website.
EBOOK TITLE: “SIR HENRI DETERDING AND THE NAZI HISTORY OF ROYAL DUTCH SHELL” – AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
EBOOK TITLE: “JOHN DONOVAN, SHELL’S NIGHTMARE: MY EPIC FEUD WITH THE UNSCRUPULOUS OIL GIANT ROYAL DUTCH SHELL” – AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.
EBOOK TITLE: “TOXIC FACTS ABOUT SHELL REMOVED FROM WIKIPEDIA – HOW SHELL BECAME THE MOST HATED BRAND IN THE WORLD” – AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.
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: 
MORE DETAILS:
MORE DETAILS: After a solicitor acting for Shell threatened to make the litigation "drawn out and difficult" with the intention of draining the resources of a financially weaker opponent, my late father (Alfred Donovan) and I decided to mount a wide-ranging campaign as a counter-measure. We jointly founded the Shell Corporate Conscience Pressure Group, which nearly 15% of Shell UK retailers joined. We regularly conducted ethical surveys involving up to 1500 Shell petrol stations. All responses were opened and authenticated by an independent solicitor who supplied Affidavits confirming the results. In whole page announcements in trade magazines (examples above) we challenged Shell to commission and publish the resuits of independent research asking the same questions and offering respondents GUARANTEED anonymity. Shell never took up the invitation. Instead it asked the UK Advertising Standards Authority to investigate our Shell surveys. No problems were found. The head-cut image of Alfred Donovan appears courtesy of The Wall Street Journal. 
See our link list of over 500 articles by the FT, Wall Street Journal, Reuters, Bloomberg, Forbes, Dow Jones Newswires, New York Times, CNBC etc, plus UK House of Commons Select Committee Hansard records, information on U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission website etc. all containing references to our Shell focussed websites, or our website founders Alfred and John Donovan. Includes TV documentary features in English and German, newspaper and magazine articles, radio interviews, newsletters etc. Plus academic papers, Stratfor intelligence reports and UK, U.S. and Australian state/parliamentary publications, also citing our Shell websites. Click on this link to see the entire list, all in date order with a link to an index of over 100 books also containing references to our websites and/or our activities.
John Donovan, the website owner
A head-cut image of Alfred Donovan (now deceased) appears courtesy of The Wall Street Journal.
