OREANDA-NEWS. December 20, 2011. North Caspian Operating Company B.V. (NCOC), together with Agip KCO, the agent company responsible for Phase I of the Kashagan project, hosted a ceremony in Atyrau today to formally hand over another 15 Sponsorship & Donation (S&D) projects to local residents under the Consortium's S&D programme.

Opening the S&D handover ceremony, NCOC External Relations Director P. Delpont said: "The Consortium has been helping local communities in the areas it operates in, through S&D programmes, focusing on economic sustainability and welfare, health, culture, cultural heritage, sports, education or the underprivileged. The timing of the event is rather symbolic: It is being held ahead of celebrations of the 20th anniversary of Kazakhstan's independence. Therefore, I would like to use this opportunity to congratulate you all on this wonderful holiday and wish you all good health, prosperity and success."

The Consortium supported 15 S&D projects, among the beneficiaries of which were:

School No 6: provided with support under environmental project "Through knowledge to actions";

Atyrau Regional Infectious Diseases Hospital: provided with medical equipment;

Atyrau Regional Healthy Lifestyle Center: provided with sports equipment;

Kindergarten No 8 of extended care for TB-infected children : provided with household appliances;

Atyrau General Secondary Profession-Oriented School: provided with computer equipment;

Kindergarten No 24 "Bakhytty Balalykshak": provided with kitchen equipment;

City Hospital in Atyrau: provided with computer equipment;

Secondary school No 14 named after Chekhov: provided with computer equipment;

Kindergarten "Altyn Balyk": provided with an outdoor playground;

Secondary school named after N. Krupskaya: provided with musical instruments and sports equipment;

The war and labour veterans society of Balykshy District: provided with 100 food coupons and 10 vouchers to the "Atyrau" health resort;

The disabled people's society of Balykshy District: provided with 100 food coupons and 10 vouchers to the "Atyrau" health resort;

The veteran's club "Frontovichka": 27 food coupons;

Low-income families of Makat district as part of the "Happy Family" campaign: provided with 200 food coupons;

The war and labour veterans society of Makat District: provided with 9 vouchers to the "Atyrau" health resort.

In 2010 the consortium's S&D programme supported 84 projects in the Mangistau and Atyrau regions, and one project to assist flood victims in Kyzylagash. The Consortium sponsored 42 S&D projects in Atyrau Region, 24 of which were in Atyrau and 18 in Makat District. In total, 221 million Tenge (USD 1.5 million) was allocated. With the exception of the flood assistance, the funding was split between Mangistau and Atyrau regions. The same amount of funding was allocated for 2011.