Kazakhstan is weighing an option to collect a $5 billion environmental fine directly from oil companies involved in the Kashagan oil venture, Bloomberg News reported Friday, citing an email by the country's justice ministry.
North Caspian Operating Co, the field's operator, is jointly owned by Kazakhstan's KazMunayGas, Eni (ENI.MI), Shell (SHEL.L, SHELL.AS), ExxonMobil (XONA.F), TotalEnergies (TTE.PA, TTE.L, TTE.BR), China National Petroleum Corp., and Inpex.
The developers have been disputing the 2.356 trillion-Kazakhstani-tenge fine for storing excessive amounts of sulfur at the Kashagan oilfield.
The ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment from.
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