The government may resolve a dispute over this year’s budget for the ExxonMobil-led Sakhalin-1 oil and gas project in two to three weeks, Energy Ministry Sergei Shmatko said Tuesday, RIA-Novosti reported.
Exxon Neftegas, the operator, has been seeking a $3.5 billion budget for 2010, while Russia has approved spending of only $1 billion on its Chaivo and Odoptu fields, the news service said.
The Sakhalin-1 partners include state-controlled Rosneft and ONGC Videsh, which each own 20 percent. Japan’s Sakhalin Oil & Gas Development owns 30 percent, and Exxon holds 30 percent.
(Bloomberg)
