Exxon's full Sakhalin exports delayed 1-2 months
Russian authorities are still checking a new oil terminal built by the Exxon Mobil-led Sakhalin-1 group and it may take two months before full operations are allowed, project members said on Wednesday according to Reuters.
They also said full scale oil production of 250,000 barrels per day could be delayed to the first quarter of 2007, from the initial target of the end of this year, as the facilities needed more work.
"The terminal is currently working under a testing regime. This may continue for another month or two," said Michael Allen, head of government and public relations for the group.
The Pacific De Kastri terminal had been expected to obtain the necessary permissions in September or October, but Russia's technical watchdog RosTekhNadzor delayed the approval as it said the newly built facility should undergo more checks.
Analysts see the delay as part of rising pressure on production sharing projects in Russia, such as Sakhalin-1 and the Royal Dutch Shell-led Sakhalin-2, and say the Kremlin aims to limit foreign involvement in strategic energy assets.
