ExxonMobil, the world’s biggest listed integrated energy group, on Tuesday blamed the government of Kazakhstan for delaying the development of the world’s biggest new oilfield, significantly raising the level of acrimony surrounding the troubled project.

Rex Tillerson, Exxon’s chief executive, barely contained his anger as he warned the Kazakh government to stop delaying the development of the field, into which he said a consortium of the world’s biggest energy companies had already invested $17bn (€10.8bn, £8.5bn) but which has yet to produce a barrel of oil or a dollar of revenue.