AKSAI, Western Kazakhstan Oblast, 20 December, 2006 – Karachaganak Petroleum Operating B.V. held public hearings today at the Burlin district Akimat related to the Environmental Impact Assessment on the construction of the 4th Stabilisation and Sweetening Train Project at the Karachaganak Processing Complex (KPC).
The construction of an additional 4th train at the KPC has been envisaged by the Phase 2M of the Karachaganak field development. The launch of this train will allow for increasing production and export rates by additional 2.2 million tonnes of condensate per year, which is to increase the current KPC capacity by 30%. The project designers believe that the technologies applied on this facility meet the highest international standards. This makes it possible to minimise the level of air emissions.
Experts from the Kazakh Institute of Oil and Gas, representatives from the Oblast Environment Department, as well as the deputies from the district Maslikhat and representatives of the district akimat and villages around the field, members of activist groups and the mass media took part in the hearings.
In their report, the specialists from the Kazakh Institute of Oil and Gas highlighted the main aspects of the construction of the 4th Stabilisation and Sweetening Train Project from the standpoint of its expected environmental impact.
Both qualitative and quantitative estimated emission figures were presented by the experts. In addition, they discussed the degree at which the emissions might affect the main elements of the environment such as air, subsurface waters, soil, flora and fauna, as well as regional socio-economic sphere, during both the construction and operational stages of the new facility.
It is assumed that the construction will begin with ground and general civil work in Q2 2007, and will be completed by March of 2009.
During the public hearings, the project designers and KPO representatives answered numerous questions from the audience. A number of proposals and suggestions were made, including on such issues as the involvement of local specialists in the upcoming construction and installation works and the participation of the company in addressing urgent socio-economical problems in the area.
As a whole, the Environmental Impact Assessment related to the construction of the 4th Stabilisation and Sweetening Train Project received the public’s approval.
