Royal Dutch Shell Plc  .com Rotating Header Image

WikiLeaks: More embarrassment for Royal Dutch Shell

WikiLeaks: Leaked U.S. diplomatic cable from the U.S. Embassy in The Hague reveals that the Dutch government would not support any targeted sanctions against Royal Dutch Shell in respect of its activities in Iran.

Also contains embarrassing information for Shell about its dealings with the Russians.  John Croker, a senior Royal Dutch Shell executive, is reported to have complained that Russia’s treatment of Shell in relation to the Sakhalin II project “does not fit” within internationally accepted norms. The Russians (Gazprom) offered less than 30% of what Shell considered fair for a stake in the project.

EXTRACT FROM RADIO NETHERLANDS ARTICLE

Dutch Government protected Shell’s interests in Iran

Published on 19 January 2011 – 9:16pm

Leaked US diplomatic cables from the embassy in The Hague show that the Dutch government in 2006 supported UN sanctions against Iran as long as they did not harm the interests of the Anglo-Dutch oil company Shell. The sanctions were imposed because of Iran’s controversial nuclear programme.

Later cables show that Shell eventually did scale down its activities in Iran as a result of international pressure. The cables from the US embassy in The Hague were leaked by WikiLeaks and subsequently published by Dutch public broadcaster NOS and the commercial RTL Nieuws news channel.

© Radio Netherlands Worldwide

EXTRACT ENDS

THE LEAKED U.S. GOVERNMENT CABLE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 THE HAGUE 002654

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/UBI (RREITER)

E.O. 12958: N/A

TAGS: ETTC, EPET, ENRG, PREL, NL, CH, IR SUBJECT: ILSA: DUTCH, SHELL ON YADAVARAN, IRAN, SAKHALIN II

REF: A. STATE 194960

B. THE HAGUE 02316

1. (SBU) Summary. The Dutch government supports targeted sanctions against Iran but not actions that limit Shell’s activities there. Shell does not plan a final Yadavaran investment decision until 2008 and will keep State abreast. The government continues to follow negotiations between Gazprom and Shell over Sakhalin II, Shell’s big natural gas project. End Summary.

2. (U) Econoff raised U.S. concerns about the Iran’s Yadavaran oilfield project with Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) officials John Roosegaarde Bisschop, Gulf States division head, and senior policy officer Loek ten Hagen on December 15. On December 18, Econoff discussed Yadavaran and developments at Sakhalin II with John Crocker, Shell’s head of international government relations.

————————————— Iran Policy and Relationship with Shell —————————————

3. (SBU) MFA’s Roosegaarde Bisschop responded with three main points on Iran. First, he said MFA supports a UNSC resolution “with teeth,” meaning reversible sanctions targeted against the assets and travel of individuals associated with Iran’s nuclear program. Iran had “crossed the line.” The Dutch, he said, fully support the P5 discussions, as part of a dialog aimed at a diplomatic solution. Harsher measures — such as omnibus sanctions or those complicating Shell operations — are not on the table and would be “very difficult” to get through the UN, he said.

4. (SBU) Second, regarding Shell, Roosegaarde Bisschop noted that Shell briefs MFA on a regular basis about the Pars gas field development, but not Yadavaran. While MFA shares advice to ensure that Shell’s activities “fall on the safe side” politically, the ministry refrains from voicing approval or disapproval over Shell projects, he said. MFA has become more involved with Shell, he said, because the energy security situation has forced shell to look at markets where the political environment is hazardous.

5. (U) Third, Roosegaarde Bisschop noted that French and Italian oil companies were much more “advanced” in their efforts in the Iranian energy sector. He asked whether we had reached out to these countries with the same message.

—————————————– No Final Decision on Yadavaran Until 2008 —————————————–

6. (SBU) In response to reftel A points, Shell’s Crocker said that a deal on Yadavaran had been “imminent” for months. He added that Shell had recently seen a sense of urgency on the Iranian side and some signs that the Chinese were ready, but the two had yet to come to agreement. If they do agree, Crocker continued, Shell would examine it and decide whether to issue a statement of interest. After that it would take Shell 12-18 months of analysis to decide whether to invest. Such a decision would be taken in 2008 at the earliest, he said, adding that Shell would notify State — which he visits on a regular basis — before any decision is made.

7. (SBU) Crocker expressed concern about USG efforts to discourage investment in Iran’s energy sector. In the short run, he said, the volume of oil produced in Iran will remain unchanged, whether or not Shell participates in Iran oil projects. This is because phase I oil extraction — a period that normally lasts 10 years — is not “tricky,” and the Iranians and Chinese have the requisite technology to proceed on their own. It is from the second phase onward, Crocker added, where the exclusion of foreign oil companies will have an impact. Since this is beyond 2020, it might make life difficult for ordinary Iranians at a time when the political environment hopefully may be more friendly toward the west, Crocker said. That said, he added that Shell views its relationship with the USG as important and that the company is very conscious of how its actions are perceived.

THE HAGUE 00002654 002 OF 002

——————————————— ——-

Sakhalin II: Shell on Possible Gazprom Participation

——————————————— ——-

8. (SBU) On Sakhalin II, Crocker offered thoughts on Gazprom’s potential involvement and helpful USG actions. First, Crocker said Shell had always thought having a Russian partner was a good idea, and had offered, in exchange for other assets, a 25% stake to Gazprom before discussions were disrupted by the potential revocation of Shell’s Sakhalin II environmental permit (reftel B). The Russians, however, had offered less than 30% of what Shell considered fair. Talks have made some progress in the last week. Gazprom’s participation could now go “either way,” Crocker said, adding that Shell is open to a Gazprom stake at a different level as long as it was a commercially viable and defensible to shareholders. Failing this — and if the Russian government continued to use “all means” to apply pressure — Shell would be prepared to go to international arbitration.

9. (SBU) Second, Crocker said G8 countries should emphasize to Russia that its treatment of Shell “does not fit” within internationally accepted norms. Crocker hoped that the G8 message would include a discussion of the potential delays to Japanese, Korean, and U.S. consumers. A failure to deliver would hurt these countries as consumers and Russia as a supplier. In “one to two weeks,” these countries may need to issue strong public statements to Russia — but for now the messages should be delivered privately, Crocker said. BLAKEMAN

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.