Gas

Jackdaw Approved Again: Shell Welcomes North Sea Decision, but Government Sees No Material Reduction in Bills

Oct 21st, 2026
by John Donovan.
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The renewed approval is a commercial breakthrough for Shell-backed Adura. The official decision, however, acknowledges significant greenhouse-gas effects and limits to the project’s benefits for consumers.

By John Donovan — 21 October 2026

The Jackdaw gas project has received renewed approval, allowing a development previously caught by a successful legal challenge to proceed.

For Shell and its joint-venture partner Equinor, the decision removes an important regulatory obstacle. For the government, it supports the argument that domestic gas production has a continuing role during the transition towards lower-carbon energy. read more

*This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, shellnews.net, and shellwikipedia.com, are owned by John Donovan - more information here. There is also a Wikipedia segment, the Shell DPA Files, "Shell and the Spies", the Shell Leaks files, the Independent Shell Archive, as well as books written and published by John Donovan - Kindle eBooks. Timeline of the Donovan Shell Feud. Toxic History of Royal Dutch Shell Group. Shell and the Donovans: The Full Media Record — 550+ Articles, 110 Books, 40 Years. *All conjured up by internet wizz, Nick Gill.

THE SHELL LEAKS FILES — 21 OCTOBER 2026

Oct 21st, 2026
by John Donovan.
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THE SHELL LEAKS FILES — 21 OCTOBER 2026

SLF-2007-094

The Sakhalin Papers LXXXIV: The Foreseeability Test — What Shell and Its Partners Knew Before the Nord Stream 2 Investment Was Written Off

Shell’s own records establish that its final Nord Stream 2 loan instalments were made in the second quarter of 2020. By then, European legislation had changed, the project was facing legal challenges, American sanctions had disrupted construction and Germany’s energy regulator was deciding whether the pipeline qualified for an exemption. A subsequent European court judgment raises an important question: how much of this risk was foreseeable?

Archive reference: SLF-2007-094
Publication date: 21 October 2026
Collection: The Sakhalin Papers — Shell, Gazprom and Russia
Previous instalment: SLF-2007-093, The Sakhalin Papers LXXXIII, 20 October 2026
Principal sources: Shell’s 24 April 2017 financing announcement; Shell’s published 2022 financial results; European Parliament proceedings; European Commission and Council records; the German Federal Network Agency’s May 2020 decision; the EU General Court’s November 2024 judgment; Allseas’ December 2019 statement; and contemporaneous Reuters reporting.
Evidence classification: Authenticated corporate disclosures, official legislative and regulatory records, judicial findings, contemporaneous journalism and separately identified editorial analysis. read more

*This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, shellnews.net, and shellwikipedia.com, are owned by John Donovan - more information here. There is also a Wikipedia segment, the Shell DPA Files, "Shell and the Spies", the Shell Leaks files, the Independent Shell Archive, as well as books written and published by John Donovan - Kindle eBooks. Timeline of the Donovan Shell Feud. Toxic History of Royal Dutch Shell Group. Shell and the Donovans: The Full Media Record — 550+ Articles, 110 Books, 40 Years. *All conjured up by internet wizz, Nick Gill.

THE SHELL LEAKS FILES — 19 OCTOBER 2026

Oct 19th, 2026
by John Donovan.
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THE SHELL LEAKS FILES — 19 OCTOBER 2026

SLF-2007-092

The Sakhalin Papers LXXXII: Gazprom’s Pipeline Takes Europe to Court — The Energy Charter Treaty, Secretive Arbitration and the Battle Over Billions

An investment dispute begun in 2019, a European court defeat, sanctions that interrupted the arbitration itself, and an extraordinary January 2026 order questioning the European Union’s explanations

Archive reference: SLF-2007-092
Publication date: 19 October 2026
Collection: The Sakhalin Papers — Shell, Gazprom and Russia
Previous instalment: The Shell Leaks Files — 18 October 2026
Principal evidence: Shell’s authenticated 2017 financing announcement and 2022 financial disclosures; Permanent Court of Arbitration Case No. 2020-07; Procedural Orders Nos. 18 and 19; European Union legislation; General Court judgments; and official records of subsequent legal proceedings.
Evidence classification: Authenticated corporate records, legislation and judicial decisions; documented submissions by opposing parties; independent legal reporting; and separately identified editorial analysis. read more

*This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, shellnews.net, and shellwikipedia.com, are owned by John Donovan - more information here. There is also a Wikipedia segment, the Shell DPA Files, "Shell and the Spies", the Shell Leaks files, the Independent Shell Archive, as well as books written and published by John Donovan - Kindle eBooks. Timeline of the Donovan Shell Feud. Toxic History of Royal Dutch Shell Group. Shell and the Donovans: The Full Media Record — 550+ Articles, 110 Books, 40 Years. *All conjured up by internet wizz, Nick Gill.

THE SHELL LEAKS FILES — 17 OCTOBER 2026

Oct 17th, 2026
by John Donovan.
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THE SHELL LEAKS FILES — 17 OCTOBER 2026

SLF-2007-090

The Sakhalin Papers LXXX: Who Pays for a Dead Pipeline? Shell’s $1.126 Billion Loss, a €579 Million Insurance Defeat and the Battle Over Nord Stream’s Financial Remains

Four years after explosions devastated the Nord Stream pipelines, the financial consequences continue to work their way through European courts. A remarkable judgment delivered by London’s High Court on 6 July 2026 rejected a €579 million insurance claim arising from the destruction of Nord Stream 1. In Switzerland, the operator of Nord Stream 2 has survived threatened bankruptcy through a court-approved agreement with creditors, including the Western energy companies that helped finance its construction. Meanwhile, a German court has refused to allow the pipeline operators to join the criminal prosecution arising from the sabotage as additional complainants. For Shell shareholders, these developments raise an important question: what became of the company’s $1.126 billion Nord Stream 2 financing exposure, written down months before the explosions? read more

*This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, shellnews.net, and shellwikipedia.com, are owned by John Donovan - more information here. There is also a Wikipedia segment, the Shell DPA Files, "Shell and the Spies", the Shell Leaks files, the Independent Shell Archive, as well as books written and published by John Donovan - Kindle eBooks. Timeline of the Donovan Shell Feud. Toxic History of Royal Dutch Shell Group. Shell and the Donovans: The Full Media Record — 550+ Articles, 110 Books, 40 Years. *All conjured up by internet wizz, Nick Gill.

Shell Wins Canadian Reserves Disclosure Exemption — Twenty-Two Years After the Scandal That Shook Investor Confidence

Oct 16th, 2026
by John Donovan.
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16 October 2026 | RoyalDutchShellPlc.com

Shell has obtained permission from Canadian securities regulators to dispense with certain Canadian oil and gas reserves reporting requirements, following its multibillion-dollar acquisition of ARC Resources. Instead, the company will continue using its American securities reporting framework, subject to conditions that include filing the relevant disclosures in Canada. The decision may be a legitimate administrative accommodation for an international company already subject to extensive reporting obligations. But it also raises an important question about the information available to Canadian investors. For Shell, whose 2004 reserves scandal involved the overstatement of 4.47 billion barrels of oil equivalent, any change to reserves reporting deserves careful examination. read more

*This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, shellnews.net, and shellwikipedia.com, are owned by John Donovan - more information here. There is also a Wikipedia segment, the Shell DPA Files, "Shell and the Spies", the Shell Leaks files, the Independent Shell Archive, as well as books written and published by John Donovan - Kindle eBooks. Timeline of the Donovan Shell Feud. Toxic History of Royal Dutch Shell Group. Shell and the Donovans: The Full Media Record — 550+ Articles, 110 Books, 40 Years. *All conjured up by internet wizz, Nick Gill.

THE SHELL LEAKS FILES — 16 OCTOBER 2026

Oct 16th, 2026
by John Donovan.
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THE SHELL LEAKS FILES — 16 OCTOBER 2026

SLF-2007-089

The Sakhalin Papers LXXIX: The Baltic Explosions — Nord Stream’s Destruction, the Ukrainian Connection and the Trial That Could Rewrite the History

Four years after underwater explosions devastated the Nord Stream gas pipelines, a German court has begun hearing a criminal case that may finally establish who carried out one of Europe’s most consequential acts of infrastructure sabotage. On 14 October 2026, a former Ukrainian military officer appeared before the Hanseatic Higher Regional Court in Hamburg, accused of helping organise the operation. German federal prosecutors allege that Ukrainian military personnel acted on instructions from Ukrainian state authorities. Ukraine denies responsibility, and the defendant contests the allegations. The proceedings follow years of competing accusations involving Russia, the United States and Ukraine. For Shell shareholders, however, one authenticated corporate disclosure establishes an important and frequently overlooked fact: Shell had already written down its entire $1.126 billion Nord Stream 2 loan before the explosions occurred. The documentary record now connects the destruction of the pipelines, the international investigations, the subsequent criminal proceedings and Shell’s financial exposure — while leaving the ultimate determination of criminal responsibility to the court. read more

*This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, shellnews.net, and shellwikipedia.com, are owned by John Donovan - more information here. There is also a Wikipedia segment, the Shell DPA Files, "Shell and the Spies", the Shell Leaks files, the Independent Shell Archive, as well as books written and published by John Donovan - Kindle eBooks. Timeline of the Donovan Shell Feud. Toxic History of Royal Dutch Shell Group. Shell and the Donovans: The Full Media Record — 550+ Articles, 110 Books, 40 Years. *All conjured up by internet wizz, Nick Gill.

THE SHELL LEAKS FILES: 15 OCTOBER 2026

Oct 15th, 2026
by John Donovan.
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THE SHELL LEAKS FILES: 15 OCTOBER 2026

SLF-2007-088

The Sakhalin Papers LXXVIII: Washington Enters the Pipeline War — US Sanctions, German Resistance and Shell’s Nord Stream 2 Exposure

Between April 2017 and February 2022, Royal Dutch Shell’s financial participation in Nord Stream 2 became entangled in an escalating confrontation between Washington, Berlin and Moscow. The United States threatened sanctions against companies supporting the Russian gas pipeline. Germany resisted what it regarded as extraterritorial interference in European energy policy. A major offshore contractor abandoned construction work, while the American government subsequently warned that even financing partners could face sanctions. The pipeline was eventually completed, but it never entered commercial service. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Germany halted its certification, Washington sanctioned the project company, and Shell announced its withdrawal. In May 2022, Shell recognised a $1.126 billion write-down of its Nord Stream 2 loan. Authenticated corporate announcements, American sanctions records, German government statements, European court proceedings and contemporaneous reporting reveal how a commercially ambitious energy project accumulated increasingly visible political and financial risks. read more

*This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, shellnews.net, and shellwikipedia.com, are owned by John Donovan - more information here. There is also a Wikipedia segment, the Shell DPA Files, "Shell and the Spies", the Shell Leaks files, the Independent Shell Archive, as well as books written and published by John Donovan - Kindle eBooks. Timeline of the Donovan Shell Feud. Toxic History of Royal Dutch Shell Group. Shell and the Donovans: The Full Media Record — 550+ Articles, 110 Books, 40 Years. *All conjured up by internet wizz, Nick Gill.

Live, official, royaldutchshellplc.com website domain name as authorised by WIPO

Oct 14th, 2026
by John Donovan.
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John Donovan chat with Google AI Mode commencing with the prompt “unofficial Shell website”:

The primary and best-known unofficial website monitoring Shell plc is Royal Dutch Shell Plc .com. [1, 2]

Key Details

  • Owner and Operator: John Donovan (supported by Nick Gill) [1, 2]
  • Purpose: An independent, non-profit, free-access watchdog that tracks corporate scandals, environmental impact, whistleblower stories, and legal disputes involving Shell. [1, 2]
  • Network of Related Sites:
    • royaldutchshellgroup.com
    • royaldutchshell.website
    • shellnews.net
    • shellwikipedia.com
    • johndonovan.website
    • shellnazihistory.com [1, 2]

    Would you like to know more about the specific historical controversies or whistleblower archives featured on the site?

    JD chooses

    historical controversies

    The unofficial watchdog site Royal Dutch Shell Plc .com hosts an extensive archive documenting what it ranks as the most significant corporate scandals and disputes in the energy giant’s history. [1]

    The most prominent historical controversies heavily covered by the site and independent watchdogs include: read more

*This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, shellnews.net, and shellwikipedia.com, are owned by John Donovan - more information here. There is also a Wikipedia segment, the Shell DPA Files, "Shell and the Spies", the Shell Leaks files, the Independent Shell Archive, as well as books written and published by John Donovan - Kindle eBooks. Timeline of the Donovan Shell Feud. Toxic History of Royal Dutch Shell Group. Shell and the Donovans: The Full Media Record — 550+ Articles, 110 Books, 40 Years. *All conjured up by internet wizz, Nick Gill.

THE SHELL LEAKS FILES: 14 OCTOBER 2026

Oct 14th, 2026
by John Donovan.
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THE SHELL LEAKS FILES: 14 OCTOBER 2026

SLF-2007-087

The Sakhalin Papers LXXVII: Poland Strikes Back — Shell, Gazprom and the PLN 29 Billion Nord Stream 2 Penalty That Collapsed in Court

On 7 October 2020, Poland’s competition authority announced an extraordinary decision against Gazprom and five Western European energy companies, including Royal Dutch Shell. Gazprom was fined more than 29 billion Polish zlotys, while Shell received a separate penalty exceeding PLN 30 million. The regulator also ordered the companies to terminate their agreements financing Nord Stream 2. Poland argued that the companies had effectively recreated a prohibited joint venture through lending arrangements. The companies disagreed and appealed. In November 2022, a Polish court overturned the decision. In October 2023, an appellate court upheld its annulment. The documentary record reveals a remarkable confrontation between European energy strategy, competition law and corporate finance — and demonstrates why regulatory allegations must never be confused with final judicial findings. read more

*This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, shellnews.net, and shellwikipedia.com, are owned by John Donovan - more information here. There is also a Wikipedia segment, the Shell DPA Files, "Shell and the Spies", the Shell Leaks files, the Independent Shell Archive, as well as books written and published by John Donovan - Kindle eBooks. Timeline of the Donovan Shell Feud. Toxic History of Royal Dutch Shell Group. Shell and the Donovans: The Full Media Record — 550+ Articles, 110 Books, 40 Years. *All conjured up by internet wizz, Nick Gill.

THE SHELL LEAKS FILES: 13 OCTOBER 2026

Oct 13th, 2026
by John Donovan.
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THE SHELL LEAKS FILES: 13 OCTOBER 2026

SLF-2007-086

The Sakhalin Papers LXXVI: Poland’s Red Light — How Shell’s Nord Stream 2 Shareholding Became a €950 Million Financing Commitment

In September 2015, Royal Dutch Shell signed an agreement intended to give it a 10 per cent shareholding in Nord Stream 2, the controversial pipeline designed to transport Russian natural gas directly to Germany. Eleven months later, Poland’s competition authority effectively derailed the proposed ownership arrangement. Shell and its partners withdrew their application. But the project survived. On 24 April 2017, Shell signed a different agreement, committing financing and guarantees worth up to €950 million while Gazprom retained sole ownership of the pipeline company. The authenticated corporate announcements, Polish regulatory records, contemporaneous Reuters reporting and subsequent court proceedings reveal how an apparent regulatory defeat became a fundamentally different commercial arrangement. read more

*This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, shellnews.net, and shellwikipedia.com, are owned by John Donovan - more information here. There is also a Wikipedia segment, the Shell DPA Files, "Shell and the Spies", the Shell Leaks files, the Independent Shell Archive, as well as books written and published by John Donovan - Kindle eBooks. Timeline of the Donovan Shell Feud. Toxic History of Royal Dutch Shell Group. Shell and the Donovans: The Full Media Record — 550+ Articles, 110 Books, 40 Years. *All conjured up by internet wizz, Nick Gill.

Big Oil on Trial: ExxonMobil Faces US Supreme Court Climate Showdown — With Shell Fighting Its Own Battle in the Netherlands

Oct 13th, 2026
by John Donovan.
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13 October 2026 | RoyalDutchShellPlc.com

Two of the world’s most consequential courts are considering questions that could reshape the legal responsibilities of the fossil fuel industry. In Washington, the US Supreme Court is examining whether communities can pursue climate-damage claims against ExxonMobil and Suncor under state law. In the Netherlands, Shell is defending itself before the Dutch Supreme Court against demands for enforceable greenhouse gas reductions. The proceedings are legally distinct, but they expose the same underlying conflict: how far can courts go in holding major energy companies responsible for their contribution to climate change? read more

*This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, shellnews.net, and shellwikipedia.com, are owned by John Donovan - more information here. There is also a Wikipedia segment, the Shell DPA Files, "Shell and the Spies", the Shell Leaks files, the Independent Shell Archive, as well as books written and published by John Donovan - Kindle eBooks. Timeline of the Donovan Shell Feud. Toxic History of Royal Dutch Shell Group. Shell and the Donovans: The Full Media Record — 550+ Articles, 110 Books, 40 Years. *All conjured up by internet wizz, Nick Gill.

Shell Calls Australia’s Gas Reservation Plan a ‘Sledgehammer’ — But Who Should Control the Nation’s Gas?

Oct 13th, 2026
by John Donovan.
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13 October 2026 | RoyalDutchShellPlc.com

Australia is one of the world’s largest exporters of liquefied natural gas. Yet its own industries and households face uncertainty over future gas supplies and prices. Now Shell Australia chair Cecile Wake has attacked the government’s proposed domestic gas reservation scheme, warning that excessive intervention could damage investment and create the very shortages it is intended to prevent. But an investigation published by ABC News only yesterday raises an awkward question: why should Shell, which has historically contributed gas to Australia’s domestic market, face potentially onerous obligations while a rival exporter accused of drawing gas out of that market could benefit from exemptions? read more

*This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, shellnews.net, and shellwikipedia.com, are owned by John Donovan - more information here. There is also a Wikipedia segment, the Shell DPA Files, "Shell and the Spies", the Shell Leaks files, the Independent Shell Archive, as well as books written and published by John Donovan - Kindle eBooks. Timeline of the Donovan Shell Feud. Toxic History of Royal Dutch Shell Group. Shell and the Donovans: The Full Media Record — 550+ Articles, 110 Books, 40 Years. *All conjured up by internet wizz, Nick Gill.

THE SHELL LEAKS FILES: 12 OCTOBER 2026

Oct 12th, 2026
by John Donovan.
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THE SHELL LEAKS FILES: 12 OCTOBER 2026

SLF-2007-085

The Sakhalin Papers LXXV: From Sakhalin to the Baltic — Shell Joins Gazprom’s Nord Stream 2 Project as Europe Divides

On 4 September 2015, Royal Dutch Shell chief executive Ben van Beurden joined Gazprom chairman Alexey Miller and four other European energy companies in signing an agreement to develop Nord Stream 2. The proposed pipelines would double the capacity of the existing Baltic Sea route for Russian gas exports to Germany. Shell described the project as necessary for Europe’s future energy needs. Six days later, the Slovak prime minister publicly condemned the agreement as a betrayal of Ukraine and Slovakia. Within weeks, the European Parliament was raising concerns about energy dependence, security and the political consequences of bypassing established transit countries. The authenticated corporate announcements, contemporary journalism, parliamentary records and subsequent court proceedings reveal how a project promoted as commercial infrastructure became a major geopolitical controversy.

Archive reference: SLF-2007-085
Publication date: 12 October 2026
Collection: The Sakhalin Papers — Shell, Gazprom and Russia
Principal authenticated records: Gazprom and OMV joint corporate announcement, 4 September 2015; European Parliament briefing, 1 October 2015; US Treasury sanctions announcement, 12 September 2014; EU regulatory and judicial records.

Contemporaneous reporting: Reuters, 18 June and 4 September 2015; Associated Press, 10 September 2015; Euractiv, 10 September 2015; Agence Europe, June and October 2015. read more

*This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, shellnews.net, and shellwikipedia.com, are owned by John Donovan - more information here. There is also a Wikipedia segment, the Shell DPA Files, "Shell and the Spies", the Shell Leaks files, the Independent Shell Archive, as well as books written and published by John Donovan - Kindle eBooks. Timeline of the Donovan Shell Feud. Toxic History of Royal Dutch Shell Group. Shell and the Donovans: The Full Media Record — 550+ Articles, 110 Books, 40 Years. *All conjured up by internet wizz, Nick Gill.

THE SHELL LEAKS FILES: 11 OCTOBER 2026

Oct 11th, 2026
by John Donovan.
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THE SHELL LEAKS FILES: 11 OCTOBER 2026

SLF-2007-084

The Sakhalin Papers LXXIV: The Field Washington Targeted — Shell, Gazprom and the Sanctions That Threatened Their LNG Expansion

On 18 June 2015, Ben van Beurden and Alexey Miller signed agreements intended to transform Shell’s relationship with Gazprom into a much broader strategic partnership. Central to their ambitions was a third LNG production train at Sakhalin II, supplied with additional gas from the Russian-controlled Sakhalin III project. Seven weeks later, on 7 August, the United States imposed export restrictions specifically targeting the Yuzhno-Kirinskoye field — one of the most important potential sources of that additional gas. The timing exposed an extraordinary contradiction: while Shell and Gazprom were seeking to deepen their commercial relationship, Washington was restricting access to the technology needed to develop resources central to their expansion plans.

Archive reference: SLF-2007-084

Collection: The Sakhalin Papers

Principal authenticated records: Gazprom corporate announcements of 18 June 2015 concerning strategic cooperation, Sakhalin II expansion and European gas transmission infrastructure; US Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, final rule published 7 August 2015, Federal Register document 2015-19274, 80 FR 47402; Royal Dutch Shell plc Annual Report and Form 20-F 2014, filed with the SEC on 12 March 2015.

Contemporaneous reporting: Reuters, 18–19 June and 7–10 August 2015; Bloomberg, 7 August 2015; New Europe, 7 August 2015; contemporaneous reports preserved in the Donovan Shell archive. read more

*This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, shellnews.net, and shellwikipedia.com, are owned by John Donovan - more information here. There is also a Wikipedia segment, the Shell DPA Files, "Shell and the Spies", the Shell Leaks files, the Independent Shell Archive, as well as books written and published by John Donovan - Kindle eBooks. Timeline of the Donovan Shell Feud. Toxic History of Royal Dutch Shell Group. Shell and the Donovans: The Full Media Record — 550+ Articles, 110 Books, 40 Years. *All conjured up by internet wizz, Nick Gill.

THE SHELL LEAKS FILES: 10 OCTOBER 2026

Oct 10th, 2026
by John Donovan.
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THE SHELL LEAKS FILES: 10 OCTOBER 2026

SLF-2007-083

The Sakhalin Papers LXXIII: The Sanctions Paradox — Shell and Gazprom Plan More LNG While Shell Suspends Russian Shale Exploration

On 30 September 2014, just eighteen days after Washington introduced expanded restrictions on Russian energy technology, Ben van Beurden met Gazprom chairman Alexey Miller at Gazprom’s headquarters. The Russian company’s official announcement welcomed the prospect of increasing LNG production at Sakhalin II. But Shell’s subsequent filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission reveals a crucial distinction: during the same year, Western sanctions had already caused Shell to suspend separate Russian shale-exploration activities. The documentary record exposes how Shell attempted to preserve one major Russian investment while restrictions were bringing other parts of its Russian portfolio to a halt.

Archive reference: SLF-2007-083

Collection: The Sakhalin Papers

Principal authenticated records: Gazprom corporate announcement of 30 September 2014; Gazprom–Shell memorandum-roadmap of 23 February 2014; Royal Dutch Shell plc Annual Report and Form 20-F 2014, filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission on 12 March 2015; Gazprom corporate records concerning Sakhalin III.

Contemporaneous reporting: Reuters, 30 September 2013; Argus Media, 1 October 2014; LNG Industry, 1 October 2014; Reuters and Interfax reporting on Shell’s Russian operations during September 2014. read more

*This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, shellnews.net, and shellwikipedia.com, are owned by John Donovan - more information here. There is also a Wikipedia segment, the Shell DPA Files, "Shell and the Spies", the Shell Leaks files, the Independent Shell Archive, as well as books written and published by John Donovan - Kindle eBooks. Timeline of the Donovan Shell Feud. Toxic History of Royal Dutch Shell Group. Shell and the Donovans: The Full Media Record — 550+ Articles, 110 Books, 40 Years. *All conjured up by internet wizz, Nick Gill.

THE SHELL LEAKS FILES: 9 OCTOBER 2026

Oct 9th, 2026
by John Donovan.
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THE SHELL LEAKS FILES: 9 OCTOBER 2026

SLF-2007-082

The Sakhalin Papers LXXII: The Partnership Survives — Shell Returns to Gazprom as Sanctions Tighten

On 23 May 2014, five weeks after Ben van Beurden met Vladimir Putin outside Moscow, Shell’s chief executive met Gazprom chairman Alexey Miller again — this time at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum. Russia’s annexation of Crimea had already triggered Western sanctions. Yet the two companies were discussing further cooperation, including expansion of Sakhalin II. Within weeks, the United States and European Union would impose much more consequential restrictions on Russian finance and energy technology. Shell’s response was revealing: it would comply with applicable sanctions, but it was not abandoning its Russian business. The surviving corporate records, contemporary reporting and government documents show how the Gazprom partnership continued through the gathering political crisis.

Archive reference: SLF-2007-082

Collection: The Sakhalin Papers

Principal authenticated records: Gazprom corporate announcements of 23 February, 23 May and 30 September 2014; Royal Dutch Shell plc Annual Report and Form 20-F 2014; US Treasury sanctions announcements of 16 July and 12 September 2014; EU Council Regulation 833/2014.

Contemporaneous reporting: Associated Press, 30 April 2014; Reuters and RIA Novosti, July–September 2014; Interfax, 19 September 2014; UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office report on the St Petersburg International Economic Forum, published 1 June 2014. read more

*This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, shellnews.net, and shellwikipedia.com, are owned by John Donovan - more information here. There is also a Wikipedia segment, the Shell DPA Files, "Shell and the Spies", the Shell Leaks files, the Independent Shell Archive, as well as books written and published by John Donovan - Kindle eBooks. Timeline of the Donovan Shell Feud. Toxic History of Royal Dutch Shell Group. Shell and the Donovans: The Full Media Record — 550+ Articles, 110 Books, 40 Years. *All conjured up by internet wizz, Nick Gill.
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