Kazakhstan, Astana, Dec. 20 / Trend, K.Konyrova /
The Kazakh Association of Oil, Gas and Energy Sector Organizations "KazEnergy" is concerned with the situation that arose in one of the key oil producing regions of the country, Association's press service said in a statement on Tuesday.
"For the first time oil and gas industry of Kazakhstan has faced a destructive challenge with such a tragic number of victims - the riots in the city of Zhanaozen, Mangistau region" read the statement by "KazEnergy".
Mass riots occurred in the Kazakh oil city of Zhanaozen on Friday Dec. 16. As a result of riots 14 people were killed and about 90 people were injured. Buildings and cars were burned, property of individuals and legal persons were destroyed. Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev announced the state of emergency in the city of Zhanaozen on Dec. 17.
The report stresses that a labor dispute that has take place at "Ozenamunaygaz" enterprise provoked, under the influence of "destructive forces", a social confrontation, and resulted in massive violations of law and public order. "The member companies of KazEnergy Association perceive such actions as a threat to security not only for production companies and their employees working in the region, but also for inhabitants of the region", the statement says.
According to the statement, since no illegal actions and disorderly conduct may lead to irreversible technogenic emergencies with severe social, economic and environmental impacts to areas of development and transportation of hydrocarbons and threaten the stable operation of Kazakhstan's energy sector.
"The labor collectives of the Association's oil and gas companies express deep condolences to the families and relatives of those who died in Zhanaozen. On behalf of the companies we express the hope that the constructive forces and the people's wisdom will help the victims' families to understand what happened," read the statement.
In addition, a special account under the KazEnergy Public Fund is opened for the Association's member companies and all representatives of oil and gas industry to collect funds and provide assistance to the victims of the Zhanaozen riot.
The Association of legal entities, the Kazakh Association of Oil, Gas & Energy Sector Organizations (KazEnergy), was established in November 2005 to promote dialogue of the oil and gas and energy sector with the governmental agencies and the public, to improve the effecticiency of social initiatives. It is intended to be a catalyst in a new level of efficiency in Kazakh energy sector.