ALMATY, Kazakhstan (Dow Jones)--The Kazakh government has filed a tax claim against Eni SpA-led (E) Agip KCO, the operator of the giant Kashagan oil field in the Caspian Sea, Deputy Finance Minister Daulet Yergozhin was quoted by Interfax news agency as saying Wednesday.
Yergozhin refused to disclose the amount of the tax claim citing confidentiality requirements until Agip KCO looks into it, Interfax reported. The minister was quoted as saying that Agip KCO has until Jan. 20 to appeal the decision.
The Kazakh government has been angry with rising costs and repeated delays of production at Kashagan and has demanded "adequate" compensation and an increased stake for the Kazakh state oil and gas company as ways to resolve the dispute.
Kazakhstan and the consortium, on whose behalf Agip KCO is developing Kashagan, are expected to finalize talks this month in a bid to move the project forward.
The Eni-led consortium includes Total SA (TOT), Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM), Royal Dutch Shell PLC (RDSB.LN), ConocoPhillips (COP), Inpex Holdings Inc. (1605.TO), and KazMunaiGas.