Investments in Karachaganak in 2000 will make $975 million - source in Karachaganak

/IRBIS, March 17, 00/ - The International consortium "Karachaganak integrated organization" /KIO/ developing Karachaganak gas condensate field in 2000 plans to invest 975 million dollars. An informed source from consortium has informed PRIME-TASS on Friday. According to him, the working program of consortium on 2000 includes construction of a compressor plant for gas reinjection, new export pipe lines Aksai - Bolshoi Chagan - Atyrau, a gas power station, collector of production, overhaul of wells and boring. Till present the consortium has invested in the project about $1 billion as the direct investments. 10 million dollars are annually invested in the social projects of Atyrau oblast. According to a source, the presentation of Karachaganak project will be held in Astana on April 6. As it was informed earlier, it is planed in 2000 to extract on Karachaganak 3.4 million tons of condensate and 3.8 billion cubic meters of natural gas. The consortium includes English Company British Gas, Italian Agip /both 32.5%/, American Texaco /20%/ and Russian LUKOIL /15%/. The field reserves are evaluated in 300 million tons of oil and condensate and 500 billion cubic meters of natural gas.