SAKHALIN-1 PROJECT CONTRIBUTES TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF NIKOLAYEVSK DISTRICT HEALTH CARE INFRASTRUCTURE
Nikolayevsk-on-Amur (Khabarovsk Krai), August 1, 2006 -- At a ceremony in Nikolayevsk-on-Amur today, Exxon Neftegas Limited (ENL), on behalf of the Sakhalin-1 Project Consortium, announced the delivery of new surgical and diagnostic equipment needed to modernize the local Central District Hospital. The total cost of the project was approximately 300,000 US dollars.The new medical systems will significantly enhance the capability of surgical and diagnostic care for the public. Moreover, the project includes training for the hospital's surgeons who will subsequently work with this equipment.
At a ceremony in Nikolayevsk-on-Amur today, Barry Knotts, a Sakhalin-1 Project De-Kastri Terminal Superintendent, said he was pleased Sakhalin-1 Consortium contribution would help improve the quality of life of the local residents, alongside with improving the safety of the company's personnel. "The modernization of the Nikolayevsk Central District Hospital is a remarkable example of the benefits that the public is getting in the places where we operate for the purpose of supplying important energy resources to Khabarovsk Krai and many other consumers in the region," said Mr. Knotts.
ENL is soon to complete a portion of the pipeline located in Nikolayevsk District that will export oil from the Sakhalin shelf via a terminal nearing completion in nearby De-Kastri (Ulchi District, Khabarovsk Kray).
Information for Editors: The Sakhalin-1 Project includes the Chayvo, Odoptu, and Arkutun-Dagi Fields. Plans call for the production of approximately 307 million tons (2.3 billion barrels) of oil and 485 billion cubic meters (17 trillion cubic feet) of gas during the implementation of the project. In addition to Exxon Neftegas Limited (the operator of the project with a 30% stake), the Sakhalin-1 Project Consortium includes the Japanese company Sakhalin Oil and Gas Development Co., Ltd. (30%), the Indian company ONGC Videsh Ltd. (20%) and two Russian companies Sakhalinmorneftegaz-Shelf (11.5%) and RN-Astra (8.5%), both companies are Rosneft affiliates. The project started up on-time in October 2005 with deliveries of oil to domestic refineries and gas to customers in Khabarovsk Krai. The export system will begin operation by the end of summer 2006 and ramp up to a rate of 12 million metric tons per year by the beginning of 2007.
For further questions, please contact Vladimir Letounovskiy, Head of the ENL Press Center, in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, telephone (4242) 678812 or 678800. See also our website at www.sakhalin-1.ru.