OREANDA-NEWS. On July 19, 2008 Karachaganak Petroleum Operating B.V. (KPO) announced that twenty five local employees of the company have successfully completed a certified programme in management, delivered by the UK Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM), reported the press-centre of KPO.

KPO General Director, Roger Fox said: “At Karachaganak we focus on the community in which we live and we aim to share our knowledge and expertise with our Kazakh colleagues, partners and contractors. Capacity building through sustainable development and skills transfer are central to the way we work.

“We have put in place long term development programmes and we are pushing forward with our nationalisation agenda. It enhances local capabilities and brings additional benefits to the region and local community. We have met the targets set by the Republic and we are already setting new benchmarks that will see Kazakh managers steering the future course of Karachaganak”, added Roger Fox.

ILM Programme Director, Michael Derry, said: “The ILM course complements the on-the-job technical training that KPO provides to its local personnel, as part of the Nationalisation Programme. I am confident that the development of management skills will increase the professional competence of the participants of the programme and, as a result, will accelerate the development of their careers within KPO”.

A further thirteen students are currently immersed in the ILM programme’s second intake, which will be completed next year. In addition to the ILM programme, KPO employees are given tremendous opportunities to gain professional qualifications in Petroleum Technology (The Oil and Gas Academy OPITO), Finance (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants); Human Resources Management (Robert Gordon University); Business Administration (Edinburgh Business School); Safety and Environment (NEBOSH qualification).

In addition, fifty eight students currently undergoing a post-graduate training within the KPO Operations Directorate have recently successfully complete the first stage of a multi-staged OPITO training programme leading to Petroleum Processing Technology Certificate.

Over the past two years, Karachaganak has spent over \\$21 million on local staff development. In 2007, KPO delivered over 288,000 training hours to staff. In addition to formal education, KPO also utilises ‘on the job’ training and parent company placements.

Earlier this year, KPO launched the largest graduate development programme in Western Kazakhstan. Over 150 graduates are undertaking training in three main areas including engineering, operations and maintenance.

In cooperation with the Karachaganak partners, KPO have also implemented a Drilling Supervisor programme. Fifteen graduate engineers will gain international experience through placements with parent company organisations. On completion of the 18 month programme, these individuals will be integrated into the KPO well operations department.