An International Center for the Development of Oil and Gas Engineering will be created in Kazakhstan, the office of the Kazakh prime minister said on December 1.
An agreement on the establishment of the centre was signed by Kazakh Energy Minister Nurlan Nogayev, representatives of the ministry of industry and infrastructure development, the Union of machine builders of Kazakhstan, the Union of oilfield service companies, as well as such large projects as Karachaganak Petroleum Operating (KPO), North Caspian Operating Company (NCOC) and Tengizchevroil ( TCO).
The new centre will localise the production of goods for the oil and gas industry in Kazakhstan, opening new industrial enterprises and service centres, promoting investment activities, the government noted.
“This initiative will provide additional support to domestic producers and will contribute to their maximum involvement in purchases carried out by operators of oil and gas projects. The centre will use the experience of similar research and development centres created by Shell and ENI,” the office of the Kazakh premier said.
The centre will be funded by operators of oil and gas projects and operate on a non-profit basis.
