SPUTNIK: Shell Stops Sending UK-Flagged Ships Through Strait of Hormuz Over Tanker Seizure by Iran

02.08.2019

Since relations between Iran and the UK further deteriorated following the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ alleged attempt to block a BP tanker traversing the Strait of Hormuz, this British multinational oil and gas conglomerate has not sent tankers there. Its Anglo-Dutch rival has also followed suit.

The gas and oil giant Royal Dutch Shell has stated that they’ve ceased sending British-flagged vessels through the key lane for oil shipping, the Strait of Hormuz, amid the UK-Iranian tensions, exacerbated by recent incidents. They, however, will apparently continue using the route. read more

Science and industry museum accused of hypocrisy for taking money from oil company read more

David Keohane in Paris and Andrew Ward and David Sheppard in London: 16 May 2018

Royal Dutch Shell, the largest European oil and gas group, also struck a provisional agreement with Iran in 2016 to carry out studies in three of the country’s biggest oil and gasfields. However, that agreement represented a much less firm commitment than Total’s and Shell has not opened an office in Iran or moved staff there. The Anglo-Dutch group said on Wednesday that it was still assessing the implications of Mr Trump’s withdrawal. FULL FT REPORT read more

By John Donovan 

Trump’s withdrawal from the nuclear deal with Iran, which has pushed up the price of oil, thus benefiting Shell and other oil companies, threatens to put billions of dollars worth of trade in jeopardy.

Shell has a record of treacherous conduct involving the Iranian regime, including using subterfuge to disguise shipping movements.

How will Shell react this time in an even more complex situation?

Below are extracts from articles published in the last 24 hours.

Sky News: How business could be hit by Iran deal pull-out read more

Of particular concern to Shell, the author provides first-hand insight into Shell’s security and intelligence activities in Nigeria, Iraq, Iran, Ireland and other global hot spots and details how Shell worked with US, UK and Dutch Intelligence and military agencies to further their mutual agendas.  The author also discusses Shell’s secret communications with MEND militants in Nigeria through intermediaries. 

By John Donovan 

I suspect that Shell in particular, should be very concerned about a book in the pipeline called “CRUDE INTENTION”. I say this because the author is a former senior manager of Shell Global Security. 

Unlike the MI6 “people” hired by Shell including Guy Colegate, John Copleston and Ian Forbes McCredie, and the FBI officials recruited for their government connections like former FBI Deputy Director Richard Garcia, the author is a career security & business professional in the oil & gas industry whose own principles and ethics often conflicted those of his spymaster bosses and coworkers; including the monitoring of our activities as part of a Shell global surveillance operation.  read more

OPEC’s commitment to cutting production to clear a global glut is working, but the group needs to address rising output from Libya and Nigeria, Iran’s Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh said. 

Compliance with the output cuts is “acceptable,” Zanganeh told reporters in Tehran. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries should focus on “the situation with Libya and Nigeria,” he said, referring to the two countries exempted from capping production due to their internal strife. read more

By Cyril Widdershoven – Sep 16, 2017, 6:00 PM CDT

Supermajor Royal Dutch Shell has decided to divest its Iraqi oil assets in a move to focus on its future in natural gas. The industry giant is seemingly breaking from its oil heritage to head full speed into the “Golden Age of Gas.” Shell’s decision to leave Iraq’s upstream oil assets is not without risk, however, as the market for natural gas is even more oversupplied than it is for crude oil.

Reuters reported the move first, based on a letter from the Iraqi ministry of oil, followed by a confirmation from Shell. The Dutch heavyweight indicated to the press that its oil asset divestment in Iraq is in line with its strategy to focus more on natural gas and downstream activities. read more

Royal Dutch Shell on Tuesday presented its development proposal to Iran’s Petroleum Engineering and Development Company for Kish Gas Field in the Persian Gulf.

Hans Nijkamp, vice president of Shell, elaborated on development plans in a meeting with Noureddine Shahnazi-Zadeh, chief executive of PEDEC, and Gholamreza Manouchehri, the deputy for development and engineering at the National Iranian Oil Company, Shana reported.

A memorandum of understanding was signed between NIOC and Shell in December to conduct technical studies on the field. read more

In Australia, Shell signals new era for LNG

By Daniel J. Graeber: July 25, 2017

July 25 (UPI) — The arrival of a floating liquefied natural gas facility off the coast of Australia signals a milestone for the region as an energy hub, Royal Dutch Shell said. The company’s Prelude vessel, its first-ever floating platform for LNG, arrived off the coast of Western Australia, after leaving its South Korean shipyard in late June. READ MORE

Royal Dutch Shell is interested in selling Iran’s jet fuel in international markets, the National Iranian Oil Products Distribution Company (NIOPDC) has said.

The company has held negotiations with Iranian officials, NIOPDC Managing Director Mansour Riahi said, adding if the talks yield positive results, Shell will be able to supply fuel not only at the Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKIA) but also in other areas.

“Shell is willing to ship fuel from Iran and sell it at airports in the Persian Gulf littoral states and neighboring countries,” he said. READ MORE read more

Iran Looks To Close More Deals But Oil Majors Are Cautious: OilPrice.com: 18 July 2017

Dutch Shell signed a preliminary deal last year to explore the Yadavaran field, together with the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) and China Petroleum & Chemical Corp, but has yet to make serious commitments, citing the uncertain political conditions within Iran. READ MORE

Shell among firms fined over Indian oilfield dispute, report says: EnergyVoice.com: 18 July 2017

The dispute over the Panna Mukta oil field when in favour of the Indian Government, the Economic Times reported, citing sources familiar with the matter. Reliance Industries and Shell have appealed the decision in a UK court, the report said. READ MORE read more

Total Plows Into Iran, Leaving Shell, BP on Sidelines: Fox Business: 3 July 2017

Total was in a stronger position to make a deal than competitors like Royal Dutch Shell PLC, which has long eyed going back into Iran. BP PLC, which helped build the Iranian oil industry, remains on the sidelines.

Iran’s Gas Wealth Lures Total to Take Dose of Political Risk: 4 July 2017

“There are a lot of companies that want to come back in Iran, including Shell and Eni,” Ahmed Ben Salem, an analyst at Oddo Securities, said by phone. “Being a first mover in the area, having kept its office open, is very well regarded by local authorities. Total will be well placed to benefit from potential new projects.” read more

By John Donovan

According to an Iranian news agency report, Iran is seeking to exploit the rivalry between oil giants Shell, Total, Japan’s Inpex Corporation and the Malaysian state-owned Petronas, all vying to develop Iran’s largest oil field, Azadegan oilfield.

Iran is apparently intent on driving the rivals into the formation of a consortium with the “mandatory” inclusion of an Iranian firm.

A move that would certainly provide the most convenient opportunity for Iranian intelligence to embed agents to monitor the activities of the consortium. read more

Update: Shell Signs Preliminary Iran Oil Deal Despite Uncertainty Over Trump

By BENOIT FAUCON and SARAH KENT: UUpdated Dec. 7, 2016 9:59 a.m. ET

LONDON— Royal Dutch Shell PLC on Wednesday said it had signed a memorandum of understanding with Iran’s state oil company to explore future ventures, signaling that giant energy companies won’t be deterred by President-elect Donald Trump’s pledge to undo the Iran nuclear deal.

Shell is the largest company to wade back into Iran since the U.S. and other world powers lifted sanctions in January in exchange for Tehran’s agreement to strict limits on its nuclear program. The British-Dutch firm follows Total SA of France, which last month signed a $4.8 billion deal to develop a large gas field in Iran and is negotiating for an oil deal now. read more

Dec. 7, 2016 5:48 AM ET| By: Yoel Minkoff, SA News Editor

Royal Dutch Shell (RDS.A, RDS.B) and Total (NYSE:TOT) will signinitial agreements today to develop oil and gas fields in Iran, in the first European petroleum deals in the country since sanctions eased earlier this year.

But the plans open both companies to potential risks from the incoming Trump administration.

Though Total is French and Shell is jointly headquartered in London and The Hague, both companies have substantial American operations. read more

by Hashem Kalantari , Sam Wilkin , and Golnar Motevalli

December 7, 2016 — 2:12 AM EST: Updated December 7, 2016 — 9:39 AM EST

Royal Dutch Shell Plc signed an agreement to assess three of Iran’s largest oil and gas fields as OPEC’s third-biggest producer looks to boost output with the help of international companies.

Shell signed a memorandum of understanding to evaluate the Azadegan and Yadavaran oil fields near the Iraqi border, and the Kish gas deposit in the Persian Gulf, Gholam-Reza Manouchehri, deputy director of the National Iranian Oil Co., said at a signing ceremony in Tehran on Wednesday. read more