05-03-2013, 09:58 AM
Interesting all of the faces being painted on this process. This almost sounds like a pump-piece initiated by Shell. They make it sound like Shell has done all of these wonderful things for the PNG government. JAPEX has done far more in regard to offering to provide financing and already training a good number of Petromin personnel in upstream operations. And I think the Japanese government has done just a little more than Shell in the way of providing funding for various projects. Seems JKM has been pushed aside by the press recently.
The explanation for me that makes the most sense in this has to do with China. We've mentioned before that Shell is China's major of choice and they have stepped up the game in funding for PNG. Early this year O'Neill was in China when he issued his statement that Japan was being unreasonable in its stance on the feud with China over the islands they are barbing over. Shell has no real reason to be in favor with PNG outside of China's influence. Shell abandoned PNG years ago and IOC bought its downstream business.
This whole thing may well be a tug of war among nations more than companies. And as we've said, Phil would not be able to stomach a Shell partnership.
The explanation for me that makes the most sense in this has to do with China. We've mentioned before that Shell is China's major of choice and they have stepped up the game in funding for PNG. Early this year O'Neill was in China when he issued his statement that Japan was being unreasonable in its stance on the feud with China over the islands they are barbing over. Shell has no real reason to be in favor with PNG outside of China's influence. Shell abandoned PNG years ago and IOC bought its downstream business.
This whole thing may well be a tug of war among nations more than companies. And as we've said, Phil would not be able to stomach a Shell partnership.