Shell Loses License In Siberia

The Russian Natural Resources Ministry reported it had withdrawn a license to develop a big Siberian oilfield from Royal Dutch/Shell because the international oil major failed to meet production conditions. Shell blamed difficulties in the Russian production sharing process for the failure, saying it had struggled to agree on the text of its instructions for more than five years. "The ministerial group of experts recommended withdrawing the license for the Upper-Salym oilfield because its holder has done nothing on it so far", a ministry spokesman told Reuters. He added the ministry could also recommend withdrawing licenses for the two remaining oilfields Shell's joint venture still holds in Western Siberia, the Russia Journal wrote.