Shell and Eni Face $4B Arbitration Ruling in Kazakhstan
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 26 2026
0mins
Source: seekingalpha
- Arbitration Outcome: Shell and Eni lost an international arbitration case regarding the Karachaganak field in Kazakhstan, making them liable for up to $4 billion in compensation, highlighting increased risks in the international investment landscape.
- Compensation Range: While the final compensation amount is yet to be determined, external legal advice suggests that the consortium may need to repay between $2 billion and $4 billion, potentially impacting future financial planning and investment decisions.
- Contractual Changes: The arbitration ruling upheld the Kazakh government's position that the companies recovered unapproved cost overruns, which is expected to lead to changes in the oil distribution formula within the field's production sharing contract, affecting the project's profitability model.
- Consortium Structure: Shell and Eni each hold a 29.25% stake in the project, with other partners including Chevron at 18%, Russia's Lukoil at 13.5%, and KazMunayGaz at 10%, illustrating the diversified investment structure of the consortium.
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Analyst Views on SHEL
Wall Street analysts forecast SHEL stock price to fall
10 Analyst Rating
5 Buy
5 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 78.220
Low
41.75
Averages
74.27
High
91.00
Current: 78.220
Low
41.75
Averages
74.27
High
91.00
About SHEL
Shell plc is an international energy company engaged in the principal aspects of the energy and petrochemical industries. The Company's segments include Integrated Gas, Upstream, Marketing, Chemicals and Products, Renewables and Energy Solutions, and Corporate. The Integrated Gas segment includes liquefied natural gas (LNG), conversion of natural gas into gas-to-liquids (GTL) fuels and other products. It includes natural gas and liquids exploration and extraction, and the operation of the upstream and midstream infrastructure. The Upstream segment includes exploration and extraction of crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids. It also markets and transports oil and gas and operates the infrastructure necessary to deliver them to the market. The Marketing segment comprises the Mobility, Lubricants, and Sectors & Decarbonization businesses. The Chemicals and Products segment includes chemicals manufacturing plants with their own marketing network, and refineries.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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