The battle between President Vladimir Putin and a Russian oil tycoon has spread fears that Western companies will shy away from investing in the country's vast energy industry. Royal Dutch/Shell has pledged US$5.5 billion as the majority investor in a project for exploration and production of oil off Russia's Sakhalin Island, which is north of Japan. The Molikpaq platform pictured above is located 16km offshore from northeast Sakhalin Island.Nov 09, 2003

PHOTO: NY TIMES