Russian Official Criticizes Shell's Efforts On Environment

Oleg Mitvol (file photo) (ITAR-TASS) November 13, 2006 -- Oleg Mitvol, the deputy head of Russia's Rosprirodnadzor environmental agency, says proposals by Royal Dutch Shell to resolve environmental damage at a liquefied-natural-gas project in Russia's Far East are insufficient.

Russian officials accuse Shell of a series of environmental violations at Sakhalin-2.

However, some observers say environmental checks are aimed at securing favorable terms for state-controlled Gazprom to enter the project.

(AP)