AKSAI, West Kazakhstan Oblast, 2 September 2004 - On the eve of the new school year, Karachaganak Petroleum Operating B.V. (KPO) gave a wonderful present to the schoolchildren of Zharsuat village of Burlinsky District and Azhbai village of the Kaztalovsky District.

As part of the infrastructure upgrade programme for villages adjacent to the Karachaganak field, KPO has provided $280,000 for capital refurbishment of the high school in Zharsuat village. Built in 1964 and accommodating more than 200 students, the village school has now been fully restored.

On September 1, at the Knowledge Day ceremony, Deputy Akim of WKO, Stanislav Kachalo, congratulated the villagers, schoolchildren and teachers on the opening of the new school and expressed his gratitude to KPO.

Commenting on KPO’s participation in this project, KPO General Director Paolo Campelli said: "We are pleased that this celebration marks another contribution of our company to social infrastructure development in the District. I hope that the children of Zharsuat will enjoy their wonderful school.”

At the same time, there was the opening ceremony of a new school in Azhbai village near Kaztalovka. KPO invested more than $ 2 million in this project.

The school was constructed in record-breaking time, and its modern design includes a sports-training centre, rest area, spacious classrooms, computer and language laboratories and a fully equipped dining room.

KPO CA and HSE Controller Nurzhan Kamalov who was present at the opening ceremony congratulated villagers on behalf of KPO: “Despite the remoteness of Azhbai village from the Karachaganak field, its residents, and especially the children, can see the results of Kazakhstan’s subsoil development. This year, apart from Zharsuat and Azhbai, thanks to KPO’s donations, the residents of Ulenta and Zhambyl villages will also enjoy new schools”.

In addition, as sponsorship aid for the Knowledge Day, other schoolchildren of the Burlinsky District received presents from KPO. One hundred and fifty six children from needy families of 8 villages of Burlinsky District were presented with sets of notebooks and stationary, and their schools will get sports equipment, video and TV sets and new musical instruments.

Apart from the annual $10 million investment in social projects in WKO, KPO undertakes sponsorship programmes to support projects in areas of healthcare, sports, education and culture.

In 2004, KPO implemented over 50 such sponsorship initiatives.