When it is a matter of principle. Major decisions have been taken during PM Karim Masimov’s visit to Mangystau oblast.

On the second day of the visit PM Karim Masimov went to see a few objects in Beineu district, studied the project for Akau port extension, subsequent to which at the ad hoc conferences in the oblast center major decisions were adopted.

The governmental delegation’s first destination in Beineu was the Borankol refinery – a single complex for refining associated and natural gas of the Tolkyn and Borankol fields. This project launched back in 2005 practically came to a standstill with the investor – “Tolkynneftegas” LLP failing the whole job that ended in halved production and job cuts.

Both the government and local authorities were unhappy about such a situation, and to amend it, right on the spot it was resolved to terminate the contract with the underperforming LLP. A corresponding order was signed this morning upon which from the next day “KazMunaiGas” is taking over an interim management of the business, - said the minister for oil and gas Sauat Mynbayev. The PM supported this decision.

Reconstruction of Beineu-Aktau 430-km-long motorway was started in PM’s presence, for which the republic budget is already allocating funds the size of over 8bn tenge for the overhaul of its first 40-km section.

In Beineu he was also shown the grain terminal and a new school of 320 student seats, which on that day was hosting his meeting with the local veterans and seniors.

At noon he was at the Aktau seaport to study the project for its extension to the north, worth over 41bn tenge, which also slates construction of hydraulic facilities, dredging works to form a new aquatorium, creation of four new oil and three dry cargo terminals with support infrastructure of the port.

At the Caspian state University of technologies and engineering in Aktau the PM was initiated into the extension plan and met with the faculty and local schools’ principals to talk on the education quality, ways to improve it as envisioned by the new state program 2011-2020 for development of education, and state language learning.

At the overhauled clinic he was shown a cardiology department in action, heard the physicians’ ideas about the healthcare reform that will improve the area, they believe, the quality of patients’ treatment. K.Masimov focused on the need to develop mobile medicine for the patients in remote districts to be timely treated too.

To see the action of the state “Balapan” program for children involvement in pre-school education the PM was shown one of the kindergartens. Owing its emergence to the program it brought this involvement up to 70%.

In Mangystau interior department he studied the work of the operations control center. That visit was shortly followed by a tallying up session in the town administration.

The oblast governor Krymbek Kushirbayev made a progress report on the action plan for Zhanaozen problem-solving in 2009-2012, for which 13bn tenge is earmarked and the main focuses of which are the local population’s employment, development of the social area, addressing this township’s infrastructure and ecological problems.

The minister for oil and gas Sauat Mynbayev’s progress report was on construction of Beineu-Bozoi-Shymkent gas pipeline, Kazakhstan-Chinese JV. By the year 2013 its first line is to be laid, the passing capacity of 5bn m3 a year, and by 2019 – as much as 10bn m3. The project is for the country’s south provision with gas, and to exclude dependence on the gas importers.

The situation in Mangystau oblast is assessed as basically stable, with the planned projects underway. Yet the Zhanaozen wants more improvements. Productions need be created around the a-building railway Uzen-Turkmenistan borderline. The formerly dead-end Mangustau region is developing into a transit one, which upends the situation.

Yesnazar Sultanov

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