Chevron sold net of filling stations in Kazakhstan to state company Kazmunaigas

/REUTERS, Almaty, August 23, 05/ - American Chevron Corp. sold net of filling stations in Kazakhstan to local state company Kazmunaigas, Chevron message says. The company did not reveal financial terms of the deal. "Branches of Chevron Munaigas Inc., Central Asia Petroleum Company LLP, and Texaco Nederland B.V., sold five filling stations in Kazakhstan to joint stock company Trade house KazMunaiGas ", - the company's press release says. Deal includes sale of three stations under Chevron trade mark and two stations under Texaco trade mark in Astana, Almaty and Atyrau. "Brands we are not leaving them (to Kazmunaigas) ", - press secretary of Chevron department in Almaty Yerkin Zikibayev said. Press release quotes managing director of Chevron Eurasian subdivision Guy Hollingsuort, who called sale "part of aspiration to improve quality of investment portfolio and concentrate our efforts and resources on strengthening of our main assets on Tengiz and Karachanganak. "We will also continue search of new opportunities for growth in Kazakhstan and Caspian region as a whole", - Hollingsuort said. Chevron owns 50 percent in JV Tengizcheroil, the biggest oil producing enterprise of Kazakhstan. In the beginning of August nature preservation prosecutor office of Atyrau oblast informed that it has instituted criminal case on fact of July accident at Tengizcheroil, resulting in harmful discharges in atmosphere. [2005-08-23]