Russian state-owned oil company Rosneft filed a lawsuit for the sum of 89.089 bln rubles ($1.4 bln) against five companies participating in the Sakhalin-1 project “for unfounded enrichment” in the period from 2015 to 2018, according to the court’s statement.
The company claims the recovery of funds for “unfounded enrichment and interest for the use of third parties’ money, accrued for the period from 10.07.2015 to 31.05.2018.”
The claim was filed against Sakhalinmorneftegaz-Shelf, RN-Astra, Exxon Neftegas Limited, Sakhalin Oil and Gas Development Co., Ltd. and Indian ONGC Videsh limited.
Talking to TASS, Rosneft spokesman Mikhail Leontiev confirmed the fact of filing the claim but refused to elaborate.
“Yes, they have filed a lawsuit,” he said.
According to the Garant.ru, a legal information website, unfounded enrichment implies acquiring or saving property at the expense of another entity (enrichment) without any legal ground for it.
Sakhalin-1 is the first large-scale offshore project in Russia implemented under the PSA conditions (concluded in 1996). Rosneft holds a 20% share in the project, ExxonMobil – 30%, SODECO – 30%, and ONGC Videsh Ltd. – 20%. Sakhalin-1 includes three offshore fields: Chaivo, Odoptu and Arkutun-Dagi located in the northeastern shelf of Russia’s Sakhalin Island.
