Sakhalin II Project Sparks Changes in Britain's Export-Credit Law

The Sakhalin Papers reveal how Royal Dutch Shell's Sakhalin II project led to changes in Britain's export-credit law. The issue centered around ECGD's power to 'facilitate' exports, which was challenged by WWF-UK and The Corner House in a 2007 judicial review.

The claimants argued that if British goods and services had already been supplied when ECGD decided on financing, it wouldn't be facilitating anything. Sakhalin II was over 80% complete by December 2006, with around $12 billion invested, more than a year before the application was withdrawn.

The House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee investigated ECGD's approach to sustainable development in 2008. The report mentioned WWF's allegation that an application associated with Sakhalin had received conditional approval before full environmental assessments were completed.