OREANDA-NEWS. September 24, 2013. Karachaganak Petroleum Operating B.V. (KPO) has announced that a new kindergarten for 350 children called “Murager” built by the company in Uralsk as part of the state Balapan programme has been successfully put into operation.

KPO’s investments into this social project totalled USD3.7 million.  The main contractor for the project was the Uralsk-based Stroitelnaya Iniciativa construction company.

The official opening ceremony was attended by the administration of the Western Kazakhstan Oblast, officials from the City Department of Education as well as the top management of KPO and its contractors.

WKO Akim Nurlan Nogayev noted the construction of kindergartens is a primary focus of government policy and is designed to enhance the social well-being of Kazakhstan’s people.

“We are proud that children living in the Samal Micro-district will now be able to obtain qualified preschool education in this modern and fully-equipped kindergarten, which is being handed-over on a turn-key basis.  Its construction was agreed upon with the WKO Akimat in compliance with the state Balapan programme, said Nurzhan Kamalov, KPO Government Relations Director.

The two-storey kindergarten is 3,968 square metres in size. The physical education block includes 16 playgrounds with locker rooms, game equipment, an area for physical training and a garden. In addition, the kindergarten yard has been planted with trees and landscaped.

There are four nursery sections on the first floor and four intermediate sections, medical facilities and a kitchen area.  The second floor has eight children’s’ sections, and halls for music, gymnastic classes as well as utility rooms.
 
In addition, as part of its social infrastructure development programme, KPO is currently completing the construction of a Music School in the Chingirlau Village in the Chingirlau District of the WKO.

Earlier, KPO had also put into operation new secondary schools on Samal Street in Uralsk as well as in the villages of Aksuat in the Akzhaik District, Koneketken in the Terektinskiy District and Ushagash in the Karatobe District. 

In addition, the complete overhaul of schools in Uspenovka and Priuralny villages of the Burlin District was successfully implemented.

The KPO Social Development Programme is focused on the construction of healthcare, education, culture and sports facilities.  The priority for projects is defined by the West Kazakhstan administration.  All KPO social projects are completed solely using Kazakhstani contractors.

KPO’s investments have positively impacted the social development of West Kazakhstan.  Each year, KPO allocates USD 20 million for social infrastructure development in the region. 

As of today, KPO’s total social investments have exceeded USD 565 million, including the construction of the Karachaganak - Uralsk gas pipeline, which was brought into production at the end of 2011.