Royal Dutch Shell Plc  .com Rotating Header Image

Russia ‘to quiz BP Moscow chief’

BBC News

Russia ‘to quiz BP Moscow chief’

Plate on the TNK-BP offices in Moscow

The office of TNK-BP has been searched twice by Russian police.

The head of BP’s oil venture in Russia is to be quizzed by Moscow as part of a tax evasion probe, reports say.

The Interior Ministry has issued a summons to TNK-BP chief executive Robert Dudley, according to the Financial Times and Reuters.

The development comes amid speculation that a state-controlled firm will try to buy a slice of TNK-BP.

Last month Russia’s security services raided BP’s Moscow headquarters – for the second time in two months.

That raid was reported to be linked to the firm’s involvement with Gazprom.

Reuters reported that the tax evasion probe may relate to TNK – the non-BP side of the business – which Mr Dudley has never worked for.

Foreign energy companies have come under increasing pressure in Russia as the government has been trying to increase its control over oil and gas assets.

TNK-BP was told last year that it was in danger of losing its production licence for a Siberian gas field for not meeting production targets.

The company eventually sold its stake in the Kovykta field to Russian state-controlled Gazprom.

Also last year, Royal Dutch Shell was forced to hand over part of its stake in a massive Siberian gas field.

SEE ALSO
Russia police raid BP Moscow base 
20 May 08 |  Business
Police raid BP offices in Russia 
19 Mar 08 |  Business
Lower production hits BP profits 
24 Jul 07 |  Business
BP sells Siberia stake to Gazprom 
22 Jun 07 |  Business
BP closer to losing its gas field 
28 May 07 |  Business
This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Comment Rules

  • Please show respect to the opinions of others no matter how seemingly far-fetched.
  • Abusive, foul language, and/or divisive comments may be deleted without notice.
  • Each blog member is allowed limited comments, as displayed above the comment box.
  • Comments must be limited to the number of words displayed above the comment box.
  • Please limit one comment after any comment posted per post.