1000 laid off Kazakhstan workmen to be hired to modernize Atyray oil refinery

China’s Sinopec Engineering has promised to provide jobs to a 1000 Kazakh workmen laid off at the North Caspian project, Kazakhstan’s Megapolis newspaper reports. The workmen will be hired to modernize the Atyrau-based oil refinery. A respective memorandum has been signed at the Atyrau Region Governor’s Office. Currently the Atyray oil refinery is employing over 1500 people to modernize the facility. According to Atyray Region Vice Governor Shyngys Mukan, over 7 000 people were laid off following completion of the construction works at Bolashak oil refinery in Karabatan in 2012. Another 5 000 people are to be laid off at the giant oilfield Kashagan in 2013.