[Prokopton]

"In this, Russia is acting more like the Soviet bully it once was than the respected member of the community of nations it claims to be."

How naive can you get?

[staytrue]

It is sort of like the US democrats where, you risk money and develope an oil field and the govt. slaps a "windfall" profits tax on you.

It is also similar to "mandating lower drug prices".

The democrats and Putin are birds of a feather.

[Thunder90]

Russia is nationalizing its most vital infrastructure. China never freed up its oil companies, and both contries are taking over areas vital for defense. Very omnius indeed.

[amchugh]

As corrupt as Russia is, I'm not sure why anyone would have wanted to invest their even before Putin's maneuver.

[sergey1973]

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[GSlob]

If he wants to be respected, he ought to behave respectably. That would require a major trancivilization effort, at a minimum. To drive the notion of omnipotent state out of his head upper derriere, a major blunt trauma would be necessary.

[oilfieldtrash]

When Yeltsin was in power he negotiated some PSA's Sakhalin 1-3 and Kharyaga which were very favorable terms for the operators and not the Russian government.
Exxon has Sakhalin 1 and lost 3, Shell 2, and Total Khargaya.

Those projects are really big and profitable and the Russians want a bigger share or more attrative terms than what Yeltsin gave them away for in the 80's.

While I dont condone what they have done, it is no worse than Chavez and Morales who kicked alot of companies right out of the country and nationalized their assets.

It is a sign of the times in the oil industry these days.

After living in Norway for 17 years, I can understand it as the Norwegian state felt that they should have control of their natural resources. Gullfaks they have 50% of and the other owners were only Norwegian.

[dennisw]

Russia just "seized" Shell oil investment in the Sakhalin Island project. I presume Shell did most of the serious exploration and initial infrastructure. So Russia decided their investment should be reduced from 50% to 25% now that it all looks good. Shell will get some BS compensation after taking so much risk and hard work

[the invisib1e hand]

they're sounding the alarm. A few years too late, but hey...

[the invisib1e hand]

they're sounding the alarm. A few years too late, but hey...

[the invisib1e hand]

they're sounding the alarm. A few years too late, but hey...

[the invisib1e hand]

they're sounding the alarm. A few years too late, but hey...