ASTANA, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Kazakhstan has agreed to continuetalks about a tax dispute with the Karachaganak consortium ofoil majors led by Shell and Eni despitebeginning arbitration proceedings, the Kazakh Energy Ministrysaid on Thursday.
Quoting minister Kanat Bozumbayev, a ministry spokesman saidthe sides had agreed in December to extend talks by nine monthsand Kazakhstan might stop the arbitration if it was satisfiedwith the consortium's offer. (Reporting by Raushan Nurshayeva; Writing by Olzhas Auyezov;Editing by Maria Kiselyova)