National Company KazMunayGaz (Kazakhstan) announces resumption of production at Petromidia site

/KASE, December 24, 10/ - National Company KazMunayGaz (Astana), whose bonds are officially listed on Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE), has provided to KASE the following press-release of December 23, 2010: quote National Company KazMunayGaz announces a successful resumption of operation of facilities at Petromidia site after completing scheduled capital repairs on November 1. The total investment made during the repair works period (September 20- November 1), has made up more than USD43 m. - It was a large-scale operation carried out by Rompetrol Rafinare and Rompetrol Petrochemicals (parts of The Rompetrol Group). Based on the repair done The Rompetrol Group now plans to increase the oil refinery's capacity to over 5 million tons a year, raise the operational efficiency and safety levels at the plant and in the petrochemical complex, - says A. Nikolchoyu, The Rompetrol Group's Vice-President for Oil Refinery and Petrochemistry. Among important projects implemented during the repair works, there is the upgrade of the catalytic cracking facility allowing the company to increase the output, as well as the automation of compressors and integration of new systems monitoring the facilities' efficiency. Another significant achievement is the reconstruction of the gas desulphurization and sulfur production unit in accord with the planned capacity of over 5 million tons of raw material a year, which is going to secure a 30% rise in sulfur production. Another goal of the repairs was creation of prerequisites for integration of future facilities into the operational flow of the oil refinery (soft hydro-cracking unit, hydrogen production unit and a new sulfur production facility). Rominserv - the general contractor of The Rompetrol Group has coordinated the job, mobilizing 52 companies and 3,100 persons. At the oil-refinery and in the petrochemical complex works have been done on 600 units and 2,000 pipelines, more than 400 devices have been set up, 61 new project has been implemented. The capital repairs were completed on November 1, just in time, whereupon a stepwise launch of units began in accord with operation flows of the Group's both companies. At present, the facilities are up and running well and are operating in a normal technological rhythm, - added A. Nikolchoyu. Corporate Communications and Public Relations Department The Rompetrol Group PR Department National Company KazMunayGaz Republic of Kazakhstan, 010000, Astana, Kabanbai batyr str., 19 tel. +7 (7172) 97 63 40, fax: +7 (7172) 97 63 29 www.kmg.kz unquote [2010-12-24]