OREANDA-NEWS. On March 6th Nikolay Brunich, General Director of Caspian Pipeline Consortium, had a meeting with Vladimir Vladimirov, temporary acting Governor of Stavropol Krai.

During the meeting Nikolay Brunich reported on the Company's current activities, implementation of the Expansion Project within the Krai and its prospects for the region. Matters pertaining to the construction of pump stations in Ipatovksy (PS-4) and Izobilninsky (PS-5) districts as a part of the expansion of the crude pipeline system throughput capacity were reviewed, land allocation issues were covered and existing problems were specified. The region's Head assured that all necessary support in resolving administrative and legal aspects of the Consortium's business within the Krai would be provided.

As a part of cooperation in implementation of the Company's personnel policy the meeting participants discussed the prospects of provision of employment of Stavropol specialists at the Consortium's facilities and touched on preparation of skilled personnel for CPC needs.

Also, implementation of CPC social policy within the Krai was reviewed, priorities in cooperation were set out and it was agreed that the local authorities would determine the spheres to which the Consortium would provide support. The total funds invested by the Company into Stavropol Krai social sphere from 1998 to 2013 amounted to about RUR 220 M. In addition, as part of the Expansion Project CPC invests RUR 150 M into construction of social infrastructure facilities in Ipatovsky and Izobilninsky districts. At the moment a diagnostic and treatment center at Ipatovsky Central District Hospital is being constructed in Ipatovo, construction of an outpatient clinic has started in the village of Ptichye in Izobilninsky district. Last year in Ptichye 2 km of walkways were built, steel fencing and street lighting lamps were installed paid by CPC.

CPC pipeline system is one of the largest investment projects in the energy industry with participation of foreign capital on the CIS territory. The length of the pipeline connecting the oil fields in Western Kazakhstan with the Marine Terminal near Novorossiysk is 1,511 km. CPC Marine Terminal is equipped with single point moorings which allow for safe tanker lifting at a considerable distance from the shore, also when the weather conditions are unfavorable.

The Expansion Project includes rehabilitation of 5 existing and construction of 10 additional pump stations (2 in the Republic of Kazakhstan and 8 in the Russian Federation), six new storage tanks (100,000 cu.m each) in addition to the existing four near Novorossiysk and a third SPM at the CPC Marine Terminal, and also the replacement of an 88 km pipeline section in Kazakhstan with a larger diameter pipe. The total amount of the Project investments will be USD 5.4 billion.

CPC Shareholders: Russian Federation (represented by Transneft - 24% and CPC Company - 7 %) - 31%; Republic of Kazakhstan (represented by KazMunayGaz - 19% and Kazakhstan Pipeline Ventures LLC - 1.75%) - 20.75%; Chevron Caspian Pipeline Consortium Company - 15%, LUKARCO B.V. - 12.5%, Mobil Caspian Pipeline Company - 7.5%, Rosneft-Shell Caspian Ventures Limited - 7.5%, BG Overseas Holding Limited - 2%, Eni International N.A. N.V. - 2% и Oryx Caspian Pipeline LLC - 1.75%

On a regular basis Caspian Pipeline Consortium provides support to the educational, healthcare, cultural, sports and social establishments in the districts crossed by the crude pipeline route, and also implements а number of charity programs to support socially unprotected communities.