URALSK, Western Kazakhstan Oblast, January 27, 2006 – About one hundred delegates from local enterprises, including current and potential vendors for the Karachaganak Petroleum Operating B.V., together with a representatives from the Uralsk Akimat have taken part in a commercial awareness seminar organised by the company’s Vendor Development & Qualification Department.

This is the second in a series of seminars aimed at increasing the level of knowledge of RoK enterprises on KPO’s vendor qualification and procurement processes, as well as the company’s requirements for potential suppliers.

During the seminar, attendees were briefed on the current and future needs of KPO departments, including Production, Engineering & Projects, Infrastructure & Services and Social Projects.

KPO Contracts & Procurement Controller, Stanislao Ferrantino said, “Today’s seminar is part of company’s Kazakh Content Development Programme, which has been approved by the RoK Authority. Such initiatives are not only consistent with the RoK government’s established policy to develop national industry capabilities, but also help our vendors improve their performance through direct technical support from KPO”.

KPO makes every effort where possible to maximise the role of Kazakh companies in the Karachaganak project and vendor development operations are concentrated on the active involvement of local enterprises for the provision of goods and services.

From 2000 to 2005, over 600 RoK companies were awarded contracts for the provision of goods and services to KPO which resulted in the Kazakh Content value of $1.6 billion.