The construction of a gas pipeline linking Karachaganak, Aksai and the Urals is to begin in the Western Kazakhstan Region in spring 2006. The presentation of the project was held at the Karachaganak oil and gas condensate field, where the project developer, Karachaganak Petroleum Operating (KPO) is to begin construction. \"The project has been approved and is being evaluated, President of Kazakhstan\'s KazMunaiGaz national oil and gas company, Uzakpai Karabalin, told the press. The project has an estimated cost of about $140 million and will be financed by KPO. \"The new project will provide further backup to the program for the gasification of rural regions, which KPO has been implementing for the past few years, KPO Director General Paolo Capelli told the audience. \"This is a social project which we must implement quickly. Stable domestic prices for energy are very important for us,\" said Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Vladimir Shkolnik. \"The Uralsk thermal power plant is to receive cheap gas, which will guarantee low prices for electricity and heat,\" Nurgali Ashimov, governor of the Western Kazakhstan Region, said. The construction of a 150-kilometer gas pipeline linking Karachaganak, Aksai and Uralsk was approved in May 2005 and a memorandum of cooperation was signed between the regional authorities, KPO and KazMunaiGaz. Under the agreement, up to 500 million cubic meters of gas will be supplied to local consumers each year. The joint committee provided $6 million for the drawing up of a feasibility study. Two automatic gas distribution stations and junctions will be built to supply gas to the Burli, Terekte, Syrym, Karatobe and Akzhaik districts. KPO is developing the Karachaganak oil and gas field, one of the world\'s largest with a reserve of over 1.2 billion tonnes of liquid hydrocarbons and 1.3 trillion cubic meters of gas, under a 40-year production sharing agreement. Eni and BG each hold a 32.5% stake in KPO, Chevron - 20% and LUKOIL 15%. (Interfax)