The authorities in Kazakshtan have closed a large criminal case against the oil consortium headed by Eni and BP which is operating one of the largest oil fields in the world at Karachaganak, Reuters reports. The criminal case centered on a $1.3 billion claim against the leaders of the consortium which also includes U.S.-based Chevron and Russia's LUKOIL, a representative of the Kazakhstan tax police said. "The criminal case on evasion was closed by prosecutors", Murat Zhumanbay told journalists on Thursday.
"Today the financial police agencies are concluding post-investigative work on the abuse", he added. The Kazakhstan authorities have also made tax claims for $708 million against the consortium which is developing the 1.2 billion ton oil and condensate field which also includes 1.35 trillion cubic meters of gas. The "tax" case is still under way, the financial police representative said. The dispute with the operating company arose as Kazakhstan tried to assert its control over the project and review agreements entered earlier with foreign investors on the production sharing agreement.
