URALSK, West Kazakhstan Oblast, 22 May 2020 - Karachaganak Petroleum Operating B.V. (KPO) has announced the successful commissioning of the Sports and Health Centre (SHC) in Zhangala village, as part of the social infrastructure programme.

The official opening ceremony was attended by WKO Akim Gali Iskaliyev , Zhangala District Akim Nauyrzbai Karagoishin, KPO management, contracting organizations and community representatives.

In his congratulatory speech, Gali Iskaliyev has said that owing to the state support, sports sector has been actively developing in the region, and the construction and launching of SHCs is one of important components of this big work.

The Sports and Health Centre in Zhangala village was constructed as per instruction of the RoK President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced during his visit to the West Kazakhstan Oblast in 2019.

"Today we are opening yet another modern Sports and Health Centre.  I think this new sports facility will promote health improvement of the younger generation, attracting to active sports and nurturing a lot of future champions on its own premises,” said Gali Iskaliyev.

The building of the Centre has two floors with total area of about 1275 square meters.  The new SHC incorporates a multi-use games room to play football, volleyball, and basketball, as well as a gym. Moreover, it is adjusted to disabled people. The building has been improved from the outside, there is a street illumination and landscaping. All the equipment included in the project meets the modern standard requirements.

Yerzhan Aubakirov, KPO Social Projects Manager, said: “I would like to congratulate all residents of the Zhangala district with this remarkable event - the opening of the new Sports and Health Centre.  We hope that this facility will become the heart of sports life for professionals and ordinary enthusiasts of active leisure alike.  The Centre’s construction was agreed upon with the WKO and Zhangala District Akimats.  This Centre is one of the ten Sports and Health Centers being constructed as part of KPO social and infrastructure development programme in WKO.

"KPO provides full support to local authorities to promote the development of the region based on the principles of corporate responsibility, maximizing the impact from the development of the Karachaganak field for the benefit of the Republic of Kazakhstan and WKO residents," added Yerzhan Aubakirov.

For the present, The Karachaganak project plays an important role in the social and economic development of the region.  During the past two decades of the Karachaganak field development, hundreds of kilometers of new roads were laid, hundreds of schools, hospitals, sports and cultural facilities in the West Kazakhstan region were built at the expense of KPO. As of today, the total amount of KPO investments in the development of oblast social infrastructure is $400 mln. The list of priority objects for construction is defined by the WKO authorities.  Only local contractors are involved to all stages of construction and execution of the social projects.