OREANDA-NEWS. On August 22, 2008 The Oil and Gas Production Board "Prikamneft", one of the largest structural divisions of the Joint Stock Company Tatneft, celebrated its 50th anniversary jubilee, reported the press-centre of Tatneft.

Rustam Minnikhanov, Prime Minister of the Republic of Tatarstan, Shafagat Takhautdinov, General Director of OAO Tatneft, Ilshat Gafurov, Head of the Elabuga municipal district, Gennady Sharikov, Head of NGDU "Prikamneft", as well and other persons addressed the ceremonial meeting of the personnel with welcoming address in Elabuga (Tatarstan). They emphasized the great contribution of the Production Board into the economy of Tatarstan, Tatneft Company as well as into the socio-economic development of the city and the district.

The first oil in the area was received from the well drilled by the crew of the toolpusher Victor Zemlyanukhin in May 1955. The Elabuga oil production shop, later transformed into NGDU "Prikamneft", was established in 1958 to develop the rich oil reserves discovered in the Kama area.

During the period of 50 years the Board produced more than 150 million tons of crude oil with the peak annual oil production in the amount of more than 5.8 million tons falling on the 1970ies. Through the application of modern technologies and equipment the Board demonstrates steady annual production of more than 2 million tons today.

Different from the other Joint Stock Company's production boards, the 10th part of the well stock in NGDU "Prikamneft" is located in the Nizhnekamsk water area and within a specially protected area of the National Park "Lower Kama", which determines high responsibility of Prikamneft employees for the environment and the natural beauty of the province.