Azernews.Az

By Aynur Jafarova

Kazakhstan's KazMunaiGas and Italy's Eni companies plan to construct the first shipyard in Mangistau region of Kazakhstan.

The news was announced by KazMunaiGas, Trend Agency reported.

"We have planned to establish the first shipyard in Kuryk. The representatives of the Dutch Royal Haskoning company have already briefed the Mangistau residents on the construction plan of the new facility. At an extended meeting, Head of the Region Alik Aydarbayev and General Director KazMunaiGas Enterprises under Construction Nurlan Balgimbayev discussed prospects of the unique project," KazMunaiGas said.

The project is aimed to develop Kazakhstan's giant Kashagan field in the Caspian Sea.

With recoverable oil reserves estimated at 13 billion barrels, Kashagan field is believed to be the largest oil field in the world after Prudo Bay in Alaska. Its natural gas reserves are also estimated at over 1 trillion cubic meters.

"The design-budget documentation will be prepared within nine months. If the project is adopted by the government, it will contribute to the employment of 1,500 people. In accordance with the plan, six ships will be built annually. As soon as the local experts gain the necessary knowledge and experience, the company will be headed by Kazak people," KazMunaiGas said.

Currently, some 250 ships were engaged in oil extraction in the sea in Kazakhstan. In case of discovery of new oil fields, demands for the ships can double.