Case studies

The resettlement of Berezovka and Bestau, which used to be located on the border of the new Sanitary Protection Zone of the Karachaganak field, took place in the period from 2015 to 2017 in several stages. In total, over 460 families were relocated to Aksai and the adjacent newly developed Araltal microdistrict. One of the examples of settling in a new place and restoring the usual way of life is presented below.

Imanmalik Dushekenov is a retired resident, who moved with his elder son and his family from Berezovka Village to Aksai in Phase 1 at the end of 2015.

Imanmalik’s daughter Gulsin Nazarova worked as a schoolteacher of Qazaq language and literature at Berezovka School. In 2017, she was resettled to a new house in Araltal. Now she works at Araltal School as a teacher of Qazaq language and literature.

In accordance with Entitlement Matrix, the households where elderly resided together with grown up and married children were entitled to separate housing after resettlement. Therefore, Imanmalik’s married son and married daughter got two separate houses in Araltal.

Imanmalik Dushekenov’s son Sapargali has three children. The eldest son is already working, the youngest son is a 6-grade pupil of the Araltal school, his daughter Aizhan is a medical college graduate. She did her college under the KPO’s Scholarship Programme. After the graduation, KPO supported Aizhan with getting a job in local Clinic. Now Aizhan is a third-year student at a Medical University in Russia.

Aizhan says that KPO had given her a ticket to life through its Scholarship Programme. «My scholarship sponsored by KPO was bigger than that of other students’».

When meeting with KPO Community Relations team Imanmalik Dushekenov thanked KPO for the assistance provided to his family: education for his granddaughter and a good housing in Araltal.

The issues of environmental protection and ecosystems of the territories adjacent to the Karachaganak field are always in the focus of KPO’s attention. In its production activities, the Company adheres to the highest standards aimed at minimizing the impact on the environment.

As part of the post-resettlement monitoring, KPO decided to green the courtyards of the houses built in Aksai.

In October 2020, KPO Community Relations team visited a number of farms in West Qazaqstan Oblast to learn how to grow various types of trees, both leafy and fruit trees and how to select the seedlings.

On 20 October 2020, with support of Aksai Mayor’s Office KPO staff delivered 150 saplings of mountain ash, Tatar maple and poplar for planting in the backyard of Apartment Blocks #24 and #25 in microregion 10 in Aksai. The saplings were handed over to the head of the Condominium.
The Condominium went to spread the tree planting also in the backyard of the apartment block No. 4/6 on Druzhby Narodov Street. All mentioned apartment blocks had been built for the households resettled in phases 1 and 2.

The joint efforts of the KPO Community Relations team, Aksai Mayor and the Cooperative of Apartment Owners have paid off. The ex-villagers highly appreciated the initiative for landscaping their yards. Taking care of the planted trees is the contribution of each resident to the environmental protection and preservation of the ecosystem in the area.

As a part of the monitoring of the resettled community of Berezovka, the local residents requested the Сompany to help move the statue of the World War II (WWII) Soldier from Berezovka village to Aksai town of Burlin District.

To keep historical memory of the former Berezovka village residents and their future generations

KPO allocated funds for full restoration of the statue and its move to the new location. The works on restoration of the statue and its pedestal with the carved names of 70 soldiers — participants of WWII, the residents of Berezovka Village (Burlin District of West Qazaqstan Oblast) were performed by Dmitriy Volkogonov from Uralsk, who is the Honoured Architect/Designer, a Member of International Designers’ Association.

The new location for the statue was chosen by an initiative group consisting of the former residents of Berezovka and the representatives from local authorities and KPO. They decided to place the statue near the school in Araltal, where children from the former Berezovka study. A new public park will be developed there in the coming few years. The renovated statue of the WW II Soldier was relocated ahead of the 75^th anniversary of Victory Day in the WWII, celebrated on 9^th May 2020. This will hopefully be a meeting place for the former residents of Berezovka village.

Local authorities representatives, residents and mass media participated in the opening ceremony on 11^th September 2019. Zulfiya Muzafarova, Community and Local Authority Relations Manager noted in her opening speech: «As a socially responsible business, KPO supports the state programme ‘Spiritual renewal’ aimed at preservation of the people’s cultural and historical heritage».

In context of the monitoring of socially vulnerable community members relocated from the former villages of Berezovka and Bestau, a KPO Community Liaison Specialist interacts with the residents, meeting with them individually and answering their phone calls and letters. During one of the trips to Araltal, the Community Liaison Specialist paid attention to the snow-covered path leading to the gate of an elderly woman living alone.

Monitoring of vulnerable and low-income families is aimed at timely identification of problems that arise in the process of their adaptation to new conditions and solve them in cooperation with the competent local authorities in order to minimize the negative impact of resettlement.

In order to help the lonely woman remove the snow, KPO Specialist sent a photo of a snow-covered path to the Department of Employment and Social Programmes of the Burlin District that forwarded an application to volunteers of a local association. The boys responded immediately, and the next day the area was cleared off the snow. The help of volunteers from the Gold Volunteer Organization did not remain unnoticed. KPO invited them to its quarterly HSE Awards ceremony. At the ceremony, the volunteers were awarded with certificates and gifts.

Now the pensioner knows whom to call when she needs help. The youth organization of volunteers ‘Gold’ included the woman’s name into the list of persons who need assistance. In addition, both young people received encouragement from management, which is also an incentive for further work and a best example for other volunteers.

To strengthen good-neighbor relations with local communities, KPO informs them of its activities in the area of environmental protection. In 2021, our target was to involve in the communication process some secondary school students from rural districts adjacent to the Karachaganak Field.

In November 2021, KPO employees carried out a number of extra-curricular classes on environmental topics for schoolchildren from the villages of Uspenovka, Zhanatalap, Priuralnoe and Zharsuat.

The topics were selected with the aim of raising awareness of the youth about care to natural resources, «green thinking» concept, conscious consumption and eco-friendly behavior.

The classes were held in the form of a game with discussion of the issues related to global climate change, depletion of natural resources, and reduction of the environmental footprint made by people on Earth. The concept of waste avoidance implies for conscious consumption, refusal to use disposable plastic items. As an example of refusal from single-use plastic bags, all participants were given with fabric bags to carry their school shoes.

Development of environmental consciousness and behavior are to be embedded into mindsets of people at early age. Through such initiatives of introducing the new environmental value system for the youth, KPO contributes to social progress.

For several years, the local authorities of Burlin district have been raising the issue of the lack of qualified specialists in rural schools and hospitals. Considering this problem and in accordance with the national programme «With Diploma to the Village», starting from 2010 KPO has been implementing a Scholarship Programme for school graduates from three rural districts adjacent to the Karachaganak Field — Uspenovskiy, Zharsuat and Priuralnyi.
 

The Programme is aimed at providing financial support to school graduates from socially vulnerable families living in rural areas in obtaining secondary specialized and higher education in the West Kazakhstani educational institutions, thus supporting the Burlin district in getting qualified personnel in the field of education and healthcare.

This Programme is approved and supported by local authorities and WKO Burlin Department of Education. It is implemented under the terms of a quadruple Agreement between a student, the Department of Education, educational institution and KPO.
 

In accordance with the terms of the Program, school graduates from socially vulnerable families, children left without parental care or with one parent can participate in it to study in secondary and higher educational institutions of the West Kazakhstan Oblast. Another requirement of the Program is to work according to the acquired specialty in the Burlin district for two years after completing studies at a technical school or higher educational establishment. Four grants are provided to each of the three rural districts mentioned. KPO provides payment for students’ studies and a monthly allowance to cover the meals, travel etc. expenses.
 

Below are the success stories of some graduates of the program:
 

Artur Kusumkulov was brought up by his aunt after his mother’s death. Arthur got the opportunity to continue his education after graduating from Zharsuat secondary school when KPO announced its Scholarship Program in 2010. After graduating from the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports of the West Kazakhstan Humanitarian Academy in 2014, Artur returned to his native Zharsuat school and had been working as a physical training teacher for more than three years. Arthur had a teaching practice in his native school. His colleagues note that in his work, Arthur applied modern methods of physical culture and sports teaching process and worked with enthusiasm, which earned him respect and authority among his students and teaching staff.
 

Dmitry Nuikin, having graduated from the Faculty of Power Supply of the West Kazakhstan Engineering and Technology College in the speciality Electrical Technician, in 2013 Dmitry returned to his native Zharsuat village and was employed by KPO Contractor within his speciality. And while studying at college, Dmitry undertook an internship at KPC (Karachaganak Processing Complex) main workshop, Unit-2 with substation duty operator, where he received practical knowledge and skills related to the inspection of portable electrical equipment, repair and testing of electric motors. Regarding the internship at KPO, Dmitry responded as follows: «This internship has had a huge impact on me, both professionally and socially. Working in the operational and repair team, I gained invaluable experience that I will be able to apply in my further professional life. I am very grateful to all those who helped me throughout my practice. I am proud to have worked with professionals who are willing to share their experience.»
 

Aizhan Kaliyeva from the former Berezovka village, who was brought up after her mother’s death by her grandfather, Malik-aga Dushekenov. She also returned to Aksai, Burlin district after graduating from the West Kazakhstan Medical College. Aizhan got a job in the central district polyclinic of Aksai. After returning from maternity and parental leave, Aizhan started working for a private medical insurance company and is currently a third year student by correspondence of the Orenburg State Medical University. She is married and has two children. When meeting with a KPO representative, Aizhan’s grandfather Malik Dushekenov always expresses gratitude to KPO for playing important role in the fate of his granddaughter and helping to get an education.

Aidana Nurmagambetova, having graduated from the West Kazakhstan University of Innovation and Technology with a degree in Pedagogy and Methods of Primary Education in 2017, returned to Aksai, Burlin district, where she is still currently working as an elementary school teacher at school No. 3. Aidana really likes working at school, and she is grateful to KPO for the support provided by Company in obtaining higher pedagogical education. According to Aidana, «The benefit of the KPO Scholarship Program is that it provides an opportunity exactly for students from low-income families to get an education, and without KPO help we would not have such an opportunity. Since I was raised only by my mother, it would be difficult for us to pay for my studies on our own. When we studied under the KPO Scholarship Program, we understood how important it was for us, students, to justify the Company confidence and not let it down.»
 

Alyona Sorokina graduated from the West Kazakhstan State University in 2017 with a degree in Social Pedagogy and Self-knowledge and returned to work as a social educator at her native school in Priuralnoye village, Burlin district. In 2020, Alyona took the 3rd place in the district competition among teachers, and also received a Certificate of a teacher-moderator. Alyona works with children and parents as a social educator and psychologist, providing support to children from disadvantaged families. She maintains close ties with public funds and organizations of the Burlin district, addressing to sponsors and entrepreneurs for helping to children from socially vulnerable families. According to Alyona: «KPO Scholarship Programme provides an opportunity to obtain a higher education. My parents couldn’t afford it on their own. Education is expensive. Thanks to KPO, I got my dream job.»
 

Aydanas Iskalieva from Uspenovka village was enrolled in the program in 2013. After completing the ninth grade, Aydanas entered the Faculty of Preschool Education and Training of the Uralsk Humanitarian and Technical College. Having successfully graduated from the college in 2017, in the same year Aydanas got a job as a primary school teacher in a school of her native Uspenovka village, where she had been working until 2019. Currently, Aydanas works as an educator and methodologist in the kindergarden of Uspenovka village and comments on her participation in the program as follows: «I have loved children since childhood and dreamed of becoming a teacher even being in elementary school. KPO gave me a unique opportunity to study for four years the profession I dreamed of. Working as an educator inspires me because it gives me the opportunity to participate in the children mindset formation and prepare them for such an important stage as schooling. I am happy that I started my career with my native school and plan to continue living and working for the benefit of my native village.» In 2021, Aidanas took the second place at the West Kazakhstan Regional competition of preschool teachers.

Since the beginning of the Program from 2010 to 2021, 18 graduates of schools of Uspenovskiy, Zharsuat and Priuralnyi rural districts and the former Berezovka village have successfully completed it.
 

Currently, when there is an outflow of rural youth to towns/cities in search of work, and young people are looking for earnings in the oil industry, the KPO scholarship program helps residents to get an education and return to village, where specialists with education are so in demand.

In the longer term of further development of the Karachaganak Field (KOGCF) KPO plans enhancement of the current production infrastructure, construction of new assets including the planting of new trees as part of the project for improvement of the sanitary protection zone (SPZ).
 

KPO supported survey works on detecting and studying historical and cultural heritage sites within the KOGCF and its SPZ areas in 2019 in order to complete the Plan on further development of SPZ in the period 2018-2026. Survey works were implemented in 2019.

• To exclude potential negative impact of KPO economic activity on the historical and cultural heritage sites;
• To take into consideration identified historical and cultural heritage sites (HCHS) and their protective zones whilst conducting the design of new assets at the Field.

Archaeological survey works were conducted in order to identify historical sites, to clarify their characteristics and actual location, to give recommendations on their security and/or study. The Kazakhstan Agency of Applied Ecology LLC («KAPE» LLC) and the Archaeological Expedition LLP carried out the activities.
 

Archaeological exploration was held on the basis of the Law of the Republic of Qazaqstan ‘On the protection and use of historical and cultural heritage sites’ and was roughly divided into three stages:

Preliminary stage included the preliminary activities with historical and scientific resources and the list of monuments from the National Registry, exploration of the topographic area maps and space images.

On-field stage included:

• visual inspection of the research area and adjacent territory with the purpose of identification and check pointing of the HCH sites;
• photo shooting, preparation of sketches, fixing of geographical coordinates, description of all found HCH sites, documentation and analysis of the stratigraphic situation;
• collection of artefactual remains, description of the findings (if any).

Final stage included office studies of received data, analysis and interpretation of detected HCH sites.
 

In the course of the archaeological exploration the following 53 HCH sites in total were detected and documented:

• 34 archaeological significant sites,
• 3 landmarks of urban development and architecture,
• 16 sacred local objects.

Most part of the detected archaeological monuments are presented by funeral monuments of the early iron century and belong to the Sarmatian group of tribes, two monuments relate to the middle ages and three belong to the ethnographic period.

In result of the research, it was established that the most historical and cultural heritage sites were destroyed under environmental factors and were influenced by human activities, roads construction, tree planting, etc. The additional technogenic factor is the Field’s modern infrastructure (highways, communication, etc.). It is worth noting that 12 archaeological monuments are under threat and were recommended to the full archaeological research in order to preserve their historical and cultural potential.

Based on the results of the archaeological survey works the Company has carried out the following activities:

• Maps of the HCH locations throughout the field and the sanitary protection zone were developed, the design project of security signs in accordance with the RoQ standards was completed;
• Dimensions of the protection zones of each HCH site and the number of the required security signs were defined;
• The need to receive land allocation for establishment of protection zones for the archaeological monuments was determined;
• Report on the results of archaeological surveys was prepared and concurred with the KSU ‘State Inspectorate for the protection of historical and cultural heritage of the WQO’. The report was reviewed by the Institute of Archeology named after Margulan A. Kh. and the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Qazaqstan.