OKIOC consortium changed its name

/IRBIS, Sept 3, 01/ - CNA informs that OKIOC consortium (Offshore Kazakhstan International Operating Company N.V.), which is conducting exploratory drilling works on the Caspian shelf, changed its name. Now it is called Agip KCO (Agip Kazakhstan North Caspian Operating Company N.V.) and it is said that the name was changed due to product partitioning agreement on North Caspian. It is the end of the process that has started in February 2001 when ENI received the right to be the sole operator of Kashagan field in the Kazakhstani part of the Caspian sea, is said. The new name of the operator company was registered in Netherlands on July 19, and its subsidiary in Kazakhstan on August 10. Agip KCO is said to continue working on behalf of the consortium consisted of nine international companies (Eni, BP, BG, ExxonMobil, Inpex, Phillips Petroleum, Shell, Statoil и TotalFinaElf), is said. It is added that the change in the name of the OKIOC into Agip KCO does not affect the legal status of the operator company, neither it does affect the agreements signed by nine international companies and Kazakhstan on product partitioning on North Caspian, as well as on the relationships between the operator and its employees, or contractors.