AKSAI, West Kazakhstan Oblast, 7 December 2011 - On the eve of the 20th anniversary of Kazakhstan’s Independence, Karachaganak Petroleum Operating B.V. (KPO) has announced the successful completion of reconstruction of a secondary school in the Priuralnoye Village of the Burlin District in the West Kazakhstan Oblast.

This project was agreed upon with the West Kazakhstan Oblast Akimat and the Priuralnoye Village Council.  Thanks to the reconstruction, the newly-renovated school will make it possible to educate 464 schoolchildren.  There are 14 classrooms, one gymnasium, a conference room, a mini-centre and canteen at the school.

The renovations were completed by the local firm - Stroitelnaya Initsiativa.  The large scope of work including the full reconstruction of the existing building, the boiler house, the rehabilitation of the water and sewage systems was performed in less than four months. 

At the ceremony of inauguration of the completion of reconstruction of the school in Priuralnoye Village KPO General Director Giuseppe PASI said, “On the eve of the 20th Anniversary of Kazakhstan’s Independence, we are proud once again to mark the outcome of the successful relationships achieved between the village communities, local authorities and KPO. Through the Village Councils mechanism we work together to progress sustainable development of the Burlin District and the Western Kazakhstan Oblast.”

KPO Corporate Governance Controller Cesare Alberti Di Catenaja said, “We are delighted to be able to complete the reconstruction of Priuralnoye Village school on the eve of the 20th anniversary of the country’s Independence.  Thanks to the cooperation between the village councils, the local authorities and KPO’s social investments, local communities can see benefit from a renovated school now.

“Village councils are working in full cooperation with KPO to identify priorities for KPO’s social investment in their villages.  This constructive dialogue enables KPO to respond to issues as they emerge and develop opportunities, which benefits both KPO and the neighbouring communities”, added . Cesare Alberti Di Catenaja.

Talgat Raimkulov, the Priuralnoye rural district akim expressed his appreciation to KPO for its continued support for the development of the Priuralnoye Village and gave a letter of gratitude to KPO General Director Giuseppe PASI.  Talgat Raimkulov expressed his hope that such fruitful cooperation will continue.

Zulfia Muzafarova, Sustainability Department Manager, noted the important role of the village councils in preparing the social performance plans for neighbouring communities.  Thanks to the close cooperation and dialogue of KPO and the local communities, a number of socially-significant projects have been implemented, including the reconstruction of a village school in Dimitrovo (2009) and the Karachaganak Village School (2010), the heat insulation of the village clinic in Zhanatalap (2009), the reconstruction of the Berezovka Village Clinic (2010), and the replenishment of the potable water supply for the Uspenovka Village School (2009) were implemented as part of KPO’s community development projects.

The funding allocated by KPO for community development projects also helped to purchase equipment for schools, houses of culture and medical institutions. For example, in 2009 water pumps for the water supply system in the Uspenovka Village and four boilers were purchased for the Priuralnoye Village School.  In 2010, KPO donated new buses for the six rural schools of Berezovka, Uspenovka, Zhanatalap, Priuralnoye, Kzyl-Tal and Burlin villages prior to the start of the new school year.

The village councils covering the eight villages closest to the field have been set up in the Berezovka, Uspenovka, Priuralnoye and Zharsuatski rural districts surrounding the Karachaganak field.  These consultative bodies were established in 2005 within a Memorandum of Understanding.

Locally trusted village residents, officials from the local authorities and KPO’s experts meet regularly and on an ad-hoc basis to discuss issues of interest of concern and to receive updates on KPO’s current and planned activities.

In 2011, KPO approached the akimat of the West Kazakhstan Oblast with a proposal to implement certain infrastructure projects in the four rural districts of the Burlin District.  The proposals were agreed upon with the village councils of the four rural districts.  As a result of negotiations, $ 2.5 million was allocated for the execution of infrastructure projects.

The 2011, social projects proposed by village councils include the rebuilding of schools in the Priuralnoye and Uspenovka villages, the rehabilitation of a school workshop in the Zharsuat Village and the reconstruction of potable water supply system in Berezovka and the water supply equipment in the Uspenovka Village.

Under the village councils, projects are proposed to KPO by local community representatives to improve the most important social infrastructure of villages and their standards fo living.  KPO then evaluates the proposals received in terms of their alignment with communities’ needs, overall priorities, their technical feasibility and the associated budget.

Local communities praise KPO’s contribution to the development of rural districts surrounding the field.  In addition to projects being implemented in cooperation with the village councils, as part of its sponsorship programme, KPO purchases New Year gifts for children and backpacks filled school supplies for children from low income families for the new school year. On the eve of 2012, 1,240 village children will receive gifts from KPO.

For more information please contact:

Sergei Pushkarev: <link>PushkS@kpo.kz

Gulnara Sharibayeva: <link>ShariG@kpo.kz

KPO External Affairs Department