PETROCHEMISTRY BECOMES A PRIORITY
Investments into exploration and production of hydrocarbons amounted to $7,3 billion in 2004 that is 5 times more than the level of 1997. In the first six-month period of 2005 this figure came to $4.2 billion or 78% of total volume of investments into the mineral and raw materials complex. details >>
COMPANIES
KARACHAGANAK: TO BE AN EXAMPLE OF ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE
This summer, KPO General Director Paolo Campelli, Minister of Environmental Protection, Aitkul Samakova and Akim of West Kazakhstan Oblast Nurgali Ashimov have signed a Memorandum of Mutual Understanding, which includes a number of additional projects to be implemented by the consortium for further improvement of the environmental balance at the Karachaganak field. Aitkul Samakova described West Kazakhstan Oblast as one of the most ecologically safe in the country and expressed her confidence that the signed Memorandum will provide transparency of the KPO's activity in fulfilling their environmental commitments. details >>
NORTH BUZACHI: 30 YEARS - THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING
The North Buzachi field celebrated its 30th anniversary in June this year. This is quite a long period of time for a field holding recoverable reserves of 75,52 million tons (546 million barrels), and in any other case this jubilee could be a kind of summing-up. details >>
KUATAMLONMUNAI DEVELOPS A ROUTE TO CHINA
An evaluation of one of the European investments fund, ranked KuatAmlonMunai as a company with one of the highest indices of net income per ton of oil produced.
ÊÀÌ celebrated its tenth anniversary last year. The company has been gradually building up the production improving its financial indicator since. In 2003 net income of KAM made $23.5 million and exceeded $39 million last year. KuatAmlonMunai Board of Directors Member Shyngys Kulzhanov highlights current plans of the company and development prospects in an interview with O&G. details >>
DIALOGUE: GOVERNMENT VS BUSINESS
Lately three themes were discussed most of all between oil and gas sector investors: this is a ban on associated gas flaring, negative results of drilling at Tyub-Karagan, and also the sale of PetroKazakhstan.
Is this true that the government unfoundedly introduced tight requirements to oil producing companies and would the first “dry” well at the Caspy be the beginning of the end of the “North Caspy miracle” and is this true that looking at the disagreement between the government and PetroKazakhstan, investors would be somewhat unwilling to go to Kazakhstan? Trying to find answers to these and some other questions, we applied to President of Nelson Resources, Baltabek Kuandykov. details >>
THE NATIONAL DATA BANK OF OIL AND GAS PROJECTS
The National Data Bank of oil and gas projects will provide companies in the Kazakhstan Exploration and Production community with the means to take full advantage of a leading edge range of technologies and services, built on the foundation of a robust, acknowledged and secure national data repository for the mutual benefit of all participants; oil and gas companies, service companies, and the government of Kazakhstan. details >>
DOMESTIC MARKET REGULATION
With a view of stabilizing the domestic market in oil product supplies the Energy Ministry proposes to use the rights of the Kazakhstani government to take measures of non-tariff regulation at exports of certain oil products. To this end, MEMR proposes to accept the relevant governmental resolution of which draft is now under discussion at respective ministries and departments. details >>
GAS UTILIZATION PROBLEMS
In the developed countries the share of the utilized associated gas is about 90%, and in Saudi Arabia it even reaches up to 100%. details >>
KAZTRANSOIL WILL BUILD AN OIL TERMINAL
Until quite recently KazTransOil was known only as a national oil transportation company. This year the company got a new line in its operations related to a need for transporting huge volumes of oil from Kashagan field in the very near future. We asked KazTransOil General Director Kairat Krymov to tell about these operations of the company. details >>
TMC - LEADERSHIP FORMULA
Today many world majors operate in the Kazakhstan oil and gas complex, which, in its turn, predetermined the appearance in Kazakhstan market of majors carrying out their activities in service sectors. One of them is Tube Metallurgical Company (Russia), which has a subsidiary in Kazakhstan TMC-Kazakhstan. Sergei Tarkin, General Director of ÒÌC-Kazakhstan LLP tells about company's activities and production specifics. details >>
IMSTALKON: SUCCESS NEEDS SPECIAL BRAINWORK
Imstalkon may for certain be referred to Kazakhstan companies, which could not only overcome the complicated period of market reforms in Kazakhstan, but could quite successfully gained a foothold in major oil and gas projects of the country. As distinct from many domestic companies, which blamed the difficulties of involvement of investment into use, the management of Imstalkon believes that you can win a tender only by permanent pulling the company to the international level both with respect to quality and management, mastering new technologies and replanting. General Director of Imstalkon JSC, Vladimir Kananykhin, speaks about how such objectives may be attained. details >>
PROTECTION OF HEALTH
The policy of the State related to the social protection of population, issues of the healthcare and safety of employees provided by an employer, as well as the prevention of diseases are reflected in the services offered by Interteach Corporation.
As employers pays special attention to these issues, and we would like to dwell on some of them. details >>
LEGISLATION
INVESTMENT CLIMATE: NO REASON FOR CONCERN
Many legislative acts were passed this year that anyhow refer to investor activities in the oil and gas sector. We asked KazMunaiGas Managing Director Kanatbek Safinov to comment on them. details >>
GAS UTILIZATION AND FLARING DURING OIL OPERATIONS
At the present time all production companies faced an unsolvable problem: on the one hand, it is necessary to start preparatory activities for the installation of the gas utilization equipment, but on the other hand, today it is impossible to carry out utilization operations details >>
ECOLOGY
THE IMMEDIATE DECLINE OF WORLD OIL:
SHOULD KAZAKHSTAN BE CONCERNED?
Concern for the environment has grown throughout the world since the 1960's when man first realized he may, in fact, be poisoning himself and the environment around him. Unfortunately it can be rather easy to ignore such concerns in the pursuit of necessary industrial development.
This continuing column aims to support industries like oil and gas by providing insight on how to recognize, confront, and deal with environmental challenges in a manner that is most supportive to all life forms. Dr. George Zelt, Professor of Environmental Sciences Kazakh British Technical University and General Director of CaspiEcology Environmental Services. Comments to: GZelt@ecocentre.kz details >>
