Venezuela demands Shell pay $13 mln in back taxes

Venezuelan tax authorities on Friday demanded a local affiliate of Royal Dutch Shell pay around $13 million (€10

Venezuelan tax authorities on Friday demanded a local affiliate of Royal Dutch Shell pay around $13 million (€10.7 m) in back taxes, fines and interest after a government investigation into the industry.

Venezuela, the world's fifth biggest oil exporter, has demanded payments from other foreign oil companies after probing taxes paid by the energy sector during 2001 to 2004.

The investigation focused on companies that held operating contracts with state oil firm PDVSA signed in the 1990s.