bizkitgto

Does anyone have any experience working with KPO on the Karachaganak Field? The majority of the work will be in the Aksai offices, with frequent field visits for commissioning/startup. Can anyone comment on the security situation, camp life, food/amenities, etc? There's not much chatter on these forums about Kazakhstan. Thanks!

carcajou

Kazakhstan is not the Middle East, mods should move to the relevant forum.

gottheTshirt

Worked on a project based in Shymkent a couple of years ago. Certainly no security concerns. Some concerns over noise from late night disco at nearby hotel. Some low price good restaurants. Apparently a good night life, but I am too old for that. Problem with local engineers speaking only Russian not English and slavish adherance to Russian Standards regardless of suitability. Bit like Azerbaijan.

scot47

Asia ? Not many posts about any of the republics in what used to be Soviet Central Asia. Or about Russia proper !

Jingsamichty

I worked on the Karachaganak project but that was over 20 years ago. I've got a couple of mates out in Kazakhstan at the moment (on different projects), they're both on 28/28, working for the clients. Summary in 2 words... "awful place".

Depends why you're going. It's one of these "work-eat-sleep-repeat" places. The camps are big and probably tolerable enough. Fly in, do your 28 days and get home as quick as you can. The problems start if you end up living in an apartment in the city, I've seen plenty people lose their marriages and houses because of getting suckered into the local nightlife and women. One old colleague of mine actually shacked up with a local girl and found himself a new father at 60... now divorced and penniless and with a new young family to support.

Millhouse

Jingsamichty

It's like Love Island set in the gulags...

gottheTshirt

Does that not apply to every expat posting. Certainly does everywhere I have worked over the past 50 years. (excluding a camp in Terzabo -Libya) ?

Jingsamichty

I suppose it does, but over my many years working away the strike rate of colleagues ending up with Kazakh second wives sees to be the highest compared with anywhere else. I think the Kazakh women are ferociously determined to hook a Westerner and have stronger and sharper claws than most.

tooboocoo

caretaker

So first the nightlife draws you in, then the girls get you.

bizkitgto

I'll be working for KPO on 28/28, are the camps really that bad (compared to the middle east)? I won't be in town - I'll be in camp, primarily the offices and field visits. What are the camps like: food, amenities, gym, etc?

Jingsamichty

As I said earlier, the camps are probably fine, same sort of thing the world over. My mates are British and American; if the camps were bad they wouldn't still be there. If I were to go to Kazakhstan I'd rather be in a KPO camp than in town.

gottheTshirt

I was based in town and can only say that the food was brilliant. Mix of European, mid Asian, Chinese even a couple of American burger bars, good beer and wine. On my few visits into the sticks I found good restaurants. i really cannot see camp life being at all bad. Communication was my only problem, had tro take a translator everywhere.

PS boxing and chess are national sports, plenty of gyms.

scot47

Learn Russian and then no need for interpreter ?