Kazakhstan Suspends Enforcement Against Kashagan Operator Pending Appeal

Investing.com -- Kazakhstan’s Justice Ministry said on Tuesday that enforcement measures against the operator of the offshore Kashagan oilfield have been temporarily halted after the company lodged an appeal.

The ministry explained that enforcement would be paused while a court examines the appeal submitted by the North Caspian Operating Company (NCOC). The government had earlier directed NCOC to pay a fine of approximately $5 billion.

Despite the pause, the ministry affirmed it would keep pursuing the matter. “The work on recovery of funds from NCOC for the benefit of the state will be continued in accordance with the law,” the statement read.

NCOC is a consortium comprising Shell (LON:SHEL), TotalEnergies (EPA:TTEF), ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM), and China’s CNPC. The venture has been locked in a lengthy legal battle with Kazakh authorities over claimed environmental breaches tied to sulphur storage at the Kashagan field.

Russia’s Interfax news agency reported Tuesday that Kazakhstan had suspended enforcement against NCOC, citing a database from the Justice Ministry.

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