Oil Majors Seek Arbitration Over $5 Billion Kazakh Sulfur Fine

The oil majors that operate Kazakhstan’s second-largest field, Kashagan, have filed for international arbitration of their dispute with the government over a $5 billion environmental fine, according to Shell Plc.

The move complicates what was already a contentious relationship between the Kazakh authorities and the companies that run some of its biggest fields. Multiple arbitrations have been underway on different issues for several years, with tens of billions of dollars potentially at stake.