Oil & gas companies in Kazakhstan allocate over $21.4 million to fight COVID-19

Nur-Sultan, August 4 - Neftegaz.RU. Oil & gas companies, which are operating in Kazakhstan, have allocated more than 9 billion tenge (around $21.4 milllion) to help the country fight COVID-19, Kazakh Energy Ministry said, NewEurope reported.

Despite the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the oil & gas industry, production companies remain the country’s largest taxpayers.

“The North Caspian Operating Company provided multifunctional beds, defibrillators, ECG machines, an ultrasound machine, beds, various analyzers, monitors, a freezer for storing blood, thermal imagers and ventilators,” the ministry said.

According to energy ministry, Tengizchevroil allocated about $7.15 milllion and conducted more than 47,000 PCR tests in Tengiz. “In addition, the company purchased 46 oxygen concentrators, 2 PCR laboratories, an ambulance and 2 ambulances, and also organized 2 aircraft for the delivery of medicines,” the Kazakh Energy Ministry said.

The company also purchased medical equipment and protective equipment for healthcare institutions in the Atyrau region. The central office of the national company KazMunayGas purchases 600 oxygen concentrators, which will be distributed across all regions of Kazakhstan.

Karachaganak Petroleum Operating completed overhaul of the city polyclinic in Uralsk. Modern equipment for intensive care, including ventilators and PPE, was transferred to the Aksai Central District Hospital. KPO plans to donate thermal imagers, equipment and test systems for PCR analyzes, rapid test kits, bedside monitors, ECGs, syringe pumps, laboratory analyzers and other anti-infection controls, as well as 2 ambulances.

Italian ENI, through its unit ArmWind, donated 400,000 medical masks to the Health Department of the Aktobe region.

US Chevron, together with ICAP, donated 70,000 respirators to medical institutions in Almaty. For $171 000, the company purchased and installed several ventilators, and also invited COVID-specialists from China. In July, Chevron hosted online seminars for healthcare professionals recruited into a new COVID-19 hospital. The company also helps labour migrants who cannot return to their homeland, doctors who are fighting the virus and low-income segments of the population.

“A group of foreign investors operating in Kazakhstan, including Shell, ENI, INPEX North Caspian Sea, Total, LUKOIL, Cameco, Air Liquide, Takeda, Freeport-McMoRan, Rio Tinto, as well as the Association Kazakhstan Council of Foreign Investors purchased and donated to the Multidisciplinary Medical Center in Nur-Sultan modern equipment for intensive care, as well as individual protection in order to facilitate the treatment of patients with COVID-19. The total cost of the equipment was more than $476 112,” the energy ministry said.

Author: Kulpash Konyrova