ENI wants to solidify its presence in Kazakhstan

We want to solidify our presence in Kazakhstan, Vittorio Mincato, ENI executive director, said after his meeting with Nursultan Nazarbaev, president of Kazakhstan.

According to V.Mincato, during his meeting with the president of Kazakhstan apart from technical issues they talked about two important aspects of cooperation in oil & gas area: an obligatory observance of ecological requirements and training of young personnel.

Responding to journalists about the transportation of Kazakhstani oil, particularly, about alternatives to Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), V.Mincato observed that "several possible routes must be considered. Currently, the issue of Baku-Tbilisi-Cheyhan (BTC) pipeline construction is reviewed, but there are other ways, especially, Russian transportation systems". Answering to the question about the possibility of a usage of Iranian direction, V. Mincato said that "currently we concentrate our attention on BTC, CPC and the Russian system".

V.Mincato also observed that "until now there have not been any problems with Kazakhstani party regarding partnership relations and investment climate".

As it was reported earlier, the biggest activity on Kazakhstani market was shown by Italian companies, related with the fuel & energy complex of Kazakhstan. Among them Agip КCО (one of the participants of Karachaganak project development), "Comerint", ССС/"Saipem", "Di Angeli Industries".

The technological service and engineering company "Comerint" projects an establishment of a centre for the training of oil & gas workers. This project is financed by European Union. Upon a request from ССС/"Saipem", ENI concern member, an assistance in the establishment of a drilling JV in RoK is provided.

ENI-Agip was one of the first companies, which showed its interest in the cooperation with Kazakhstan. Today the company participates in three projects - Karachaganak, Agip КCО and CPC. In February 2001 a meeting of shareholders of the international consortium ОКIОC elected Agip as the sole operator of North Caspian project (14.3%).