27 June 2006
During a recent public hearing on the relocation of villagers from Berezovka, corruption and cynicism were used to describe the work of Karachaganak Petroleum Operating Consortium (KPO) and the government administration.
On May 25, 2006 villagers from Berezovka attended a public hearing, organized by activists from environmental organizations “TAN” and Crude Accountability, with representatives of Karachaganak Petroleum Operating Consortium (KPO, B.V.) and the government administration. The meeting was arranged to address concerns about the elevated volume of emissions at Karachaganak oil and gas field, the relocation of villagers and allegations of corruption. Although the KPO representative and the representatives from the ministries of the Economy and Environment did not support the villagers’ requests for more information and demands for resettlement, the community was able to secure the support of a regional Deputy to the Kazakhstani parliament, Amanzhan Zhamalov. The hearing ended with the submission of a draft recommendation from the local community to the Kazakhstani authorities, which included a request for the disclosure of the Production Sharing Agreement and a demand for the relocation of Berezovka’s villagers.
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