To date, no KPO employee has been infected with the virus. Majority of the national staff have been switched to smart remote working. At workplaces remain only core personnel enabling KPO to continue operating in a safe and responsible manner.
KPO has stopped arrival of all expats except for the select few business critical positions, whose presence in Karachaganak is essential for ensuring business continuity for production facilities and capital expenditures projects. This has been authorized by the RoK State Commission for the Emergency Situation in relation to the several largest international projects. All these individuals will be subjected, as per RoK Ministry of Health requirement, to COVID-19 testing and 14-day isolation.
The local staff rotations are limited to those in WKO, rotating staff from and to other Oblasts are currently not allowed. As soon as the RoK government will remove the restrictions, the staff will return to the normal work pattern in full compliance with all testing and isolation requirements.
As KPO General Director Edwin Blom noted, nowadays it is quite challenging to maintain rotation of people. The number of rotated staff have been reduced to an absolute minimum. Thus, to date the expatriate staff on shift makes up less than 30% of what it normally is. These are all staff that are critical to continue production as well as key projects, thereby providing thousands of jobs to local staff.
Against the backdrop of combating the coronavirus, KPO continues to stay focused on its key business objective, which is a safe operation of the Karachaganak field, which is regarded as one of the largest hydrocarbon reserve in the world, and the continued generation of revenue for the Republic of Kazakhstan. Besides, keeping the field running during this precarious time means thousands of jobs that provide for many more households across the region and beyond
It is important to note that KPO is ahead of target with 2020 production volumes approved by the Authority and Partners. In general, the reliability of KPO production operations remains stable. The company personnel remains committed to delivering outstanding performance. In spite of the impact of current low oil prices, KPO is not planning to reduce its personnel.
Needless to say that the company’s measures to prevent COVID spread are extended not only to company and contractor personnel. KPO is providing valuable support to the Burlin region by purchasing items of medical needs. These purchases include lung ventilators for use at the Intensive Care Units, infrared thermometers, COVID-19 rapid test kits, bedside patient monitors, ECG apparatus, infusion pumps, laboratory analysers and various other infection control supplies. Company does this as a responsible neighbour willing to help local communities in these hard times. Similarly, KPO is helping the District authorities in equipping the checkpoints and patrolling to ensure that the ongoing WKO lock-down measures are properly enforced and implemented.
Karachaganak Petroleum Operating B.V. remains committed to its obligations with the Republic of Kazakhstan and will do everything within its power to protect the health and safety of its personnel and community. At present KPO has all necessary resources, expertise and facilities to implement the quarantine measures as prescribed by the RoK health authorities and to halt the spread of COVID-19.
Photo source: kpo