OREANDA-NEWS. July 23, 2014. Karachaganak Petroleum Operating B.V. makes a significant contribution to socio-economic transformation in the West Kazakhstan region.  KPO annually invests USD20 million into implementation of social infrastructure development projects in WKO.

Over the past years, KPO has won several prestigious awards in the republican contest for social responsibility - Paryz.  Such recognition became possible thanks to the fruitful cooperation and partnership between KPO and with the WKO Authorities.  Healthcare and educational institutions, sports facilities and roads have been built thanks to KPO investments.  A complete list of facilities, built as part of KPO social programme, covers multiple pages.

The development of sports in WKO is a priority.  The first large-scale project in this area commissioned in 2001 was the construction of the Ice Rink in Uralsk.  It is the largest facility in the region with an ice arena of 1800 square meters, gym and fitness facility, summer tennis court and mini football ground. The Ice Rink stands are designed for 1300 spectators.  In a relatively short time ice can be covered with a special coating, which allows exhibitions and forums to be held there.  The Ice Rink is also home for the Children and Youth Sports School, which offers figure skating, short track, ice hockey and weightlifting.

Another high-demanded social project of KPO was the construction of swimming-pool in Uralsk.  Since 2005 the only Children and Youth Aquatics Swim School in the region has been functioning here.  Now it involves more than 400 young athletes.  Among its pupils are the champions of republican and international competitions.

Currently, an indoor tennis complex is being built in a new district of Uralsk.  The construction of this actual social project with the total area of 3600 square meters, 300 indoor and 300 outdoor court seats, is nearing completion. This facility will have four indoor and four outdoor courts, recreation area, basketball, volleyball and children's playground.  This project is being implemented under the supervision of Kazakhstan Tennis Federation.

Only high quality construction materials that meet international standards are applied here.  Currently, the construction team is getting ready to commence the laying down of “Hard” material, which is the main cover used for tennis courts.  Full landscaping of adjacent territory will be made in the framework of the project. The tennis court will be commissioned in autumn already.  It will give additional pulse to the development of this kind of sport in the West Kazakhstan region.  Sports facilities are a reliable “tool” for improvement of people’s health.  And as the RoK President noted in his address to nation “Kazakhstan's way – 2050”, “adoption of a healthy lifestyle and development of medicine will increase the duration of life of Kazakhstan citizens to 80 years and more”.

Construction of another KPO facility - Qadir Ali Mirza Palace of Arts is also in progress.  It should be noted that only Kazakhstani companies are involved in the construction of all KPO social facilities. This approach allows solving the actual problems of the West Kazakhstan region.

At the XXI International Petroleum Congress held in June this year in Moscow, KPO was awarded another prize - KAZENERGI Association Medal for its contribution to the development of mutually beneficial cooperation.  Currently, economic and technical assessments are being conducted at KPO in view of a potential expansion.  This may contribute to new large-scale investments, the creation of new local jobs and significant opportunities for the residents of the West Kazakhstan region.  Operating as a responsible corporate citizen, KPO is working towards achieving sustained success to the benefit of country’s economy and the residents of the West Kazakhstan region.