To 2001 the international consortium plans to invest in the KARACHAGANAK gas project $2.3 billion

/IRBIS, Dec.14, 99/ - According to PRIME TASS, which cites an informed source in the consortium, the International consortium Karachaganak Petroleum Operating, developing Karachaganak gas deposit in Kazakhstan, plans to invest till 2001 $2.3 billion in comparison with $160 million in 1998. On it has informed a PRIME TASS on Tuesday the informed source in a consortium. As the source said, these means will be directed mainly on construction of the railway Karachganak-Aksai, water pumping plant and gas-turbine power station. According to the plans in 2002-2006 more than $4 billion, and in 2007-2036 - $11 billion will be invested. In 1999 production of condensate will make 3.8 million tons, of natural gas - 4 billion cubic meters. The condensate production will reach a maximum level of 12.8 million tons in 2007, gas condensate - 28 billion cubic meters in 2011. The source has noted that the consortium has the "serious problems with the regional authorities", which are connected with default by the consortium one from the main points of the agreement with the government concerning of the involving of the local population in the work at the deposit. Besides the tenders for contract operations the consortium conducts only abroad, and its chiefs declare, that "in Kazakhstan we give a report only to the national oil and gas company KAZAKHOIL", has informed a source. The Karachaganak gas-condensate deposit contains 300 million tons of oil and gas condensate and 500 billion cubic meter of gas. The Karachaganak Petroleum Operating units the English company British Gas, Italian Agip, American Texaco and Russian "LUKOIL".