LUKOIL to invest 3 bln dlrs in Kazakh assets in near future

MOSCOW, October 6 (Itar-Tass) - Russian oil giant LUKOIL plans to
invest about 3.2 billion dollars in the development of its Kazakh assets
in the near future, the head of LUKOIL Kazakhstan, Andrei Kirillov, said
in an interview with the Kazakh newspaper Kazakhstanskaya Pravda.
"LUKOIL plans to invest about 3.2 billion dollars into development of
current Kazakh assets. It takes part in seven production projects in
Kazakhstan - Tengiz, Karachaganak, Kumkol, Alibekmola-Kozhasai, Nothern
Buzachi, Karakuduk and Arman, three geological exploration projects -
Atash, Zhambai, Zaburunie, and one infrastructure project," Kirillov said.
According to Kirillov, the investments are to be earmarked mainly for
drilling wells, infrastructure development, and the completion of a
program for putting to use casing head gas at all production facilities.
LUKOIL has been operating in Kazakhstan since 1995 and it has so far
invested over five billion dollars in its projects there.