Europe’s biggest oil groups are extending business deals with their Russian energy partners despite this month’s EU vote to continue imposing sanctions, highlighting how western companies are learning to live with the restrictions placed on Moscow.
BP is close to agreeing a deal to acquire a 20 per cent stake in a Siberian oilfield from state-owned Rosneft that could be worth $700m, people familiar with the matter told the Financial Times, while Italy’s Eni and Statoil of Norway have received approval from European capitals to continue work on their joint ventures with Rosneft.
Shell is also still working on its Salym joint venture with Gazprom Neft, the oil arm of the Russian gas group, and has applied for approval from the Dutch government for other projects.