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Gazprom's unit purchases previous Shell stake in Sakhalin Energy for $1 bln

Kremlincontrolled energy huge Gazprom has actually acquired a 27.5% stake, formerly owned by Shell, in Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG). manufacturer Sakhalin Energy for around $1 billion, according to a. federal government order.

The government likewise formally nullified its order a year. earlier on selling the stake to Gazprom's competitor, Novatek,. without description.

The Russian government said late on Monday that the 27.5%. stake in Sakhalin Energy is because of be offered to a company called. Sakhalin Task for 94.8 billion roubles ($ 1.02 billion).

No factor was given for this switch in buyers, however some. analysts speculated that Novatek may have evaluated the legal. threat to be too expensive, Moscow-based BCS brokerage stated in a note.

The United States in November enforced sweeping brand-new procedures. versus Moscow, consisting of against Novatek-led Arctic LNG 2. job, over the dispute in Ukraine.

Sakhalin Job is totally owned by Gazprom, business filings. revealed. Gazprom declined extra comments, while Novatek did. not instantly respond to an ask for comment.

We can not discuss matters relating to the Russian. Federal Federal government's Decree process. Shell reserves all its. legal rights associating with its 27.5% (minus one share) interest in. Sakhalin Energy Investment Firm Ltd (SEIC). We have no. additional comment, Shell said in an emailed statement.

Gazprom owns 50% in Sakhalin Energy situated in the southern. suggestion of Russia's Pacific island of Sakhalin. Other shareholders. are Japanese companies Mitsui (12.5%) and Mitsubishi. ( 10%).

Following Moscow's decision to send out troops into Ukraine in. February 2022, Shell said it would quit the task.

The company scheduled a $1.6 billion impairment associated to the. Russian LNG job in the very first quarter of 2022.

Sources have actually said Shell believed there was a threat Russia. would nationalise foreign-held properties, while Russian President. Vladimir Putin has repeatedly stated Moscow would strike back. against the United States and its allies for freezing Russian. properties and other sanctions.

In June 2022, the Sakhalin-2 operating company was. transformed into a Russian entity by means of a governmental decree.

Shell as well as Mitsui and Mitsubishi were then asked to. apply to keep their stakes if they wanted to.

Moscow invited firms interested in obtaining Shell's stake -. as well as Exxon Mobil's abandoned share in the sis. Sakahlin-1 task - to submit applications to the government.

In 2022, Sakhalin energy represented practically 3% of global. LNG demand. Its cargoes mainly head to Japan, South Korea,. China, India and other Asian nations.

In 2015, it produced more than 10 million metric tons of. LNG, down from 11.5 million loads in 2022.

(source: Reuters)