At KPO understanding and protecting areas of cultural sensitivity and historic significance within our areas of impact and influence is an important part of our approach to social performance.
KPO works together with local communities, institutes and experts to identify, and incorporate into its decision making process, sites and property that have cultural heritage significance.
Where cultural heritage is identified in baselines and/or impact assessments as being within KPO’s area of impact or area of direct or indirect influence, KPO will manage this in accordance with recognised international standards.
In 2008, KPO initiated a wide ranging cultural heritage survey of the Karachaganak field area and surrounding locations. In total this survey area was in the order of 800 square kilometres and involved partnership with the West Kazakhstan Oblast (WKO) Archaeological and Historical Centre.
The objective of this survey is to provide detailed information and locations of any sites within proximity to the Karachaganak field which KPO will need to be aware of during further development of the field.
Such sites will be protected from future development activities unless it is absolutely necessary to develop in that location. In such cases KPO will work together with the WKO Archaeological and Historical Centre to put in place a management programme which meets Republic of Kazakhstan legal requirements and complies with the KPO standards for managing sites of cultural heritage in line with international expectations.
