KATCO, a joint Kazakh-French Venture based in Almaty, inaugurated a new school in the urban settlement of Sholakkorgan, in the Sozak Region, in the presence of several representatives of the district administration, the company’s shareholders (AREVA and KazAtomProm) and the top level management.

KATCO – a joint Kazakh-French Venture based in Almaty – was created in 1996 to develop and mine the Muyunkum and Tortkuduk uranium deposits in southern Kazakhstan, approximately 250 km north of Shymkent. Today, the company employs 1170 persons and runs the largest In Situ Recovery (ISR) operation in the world with a yearly capacity of more than 3100 tU and total reserves of 65000 tU.

The newly constructed school, named after Askar Suleimenov, replaces the old one built in 1953 and has been fully financed by the Kazakh-French company KATCO. This modern structure is divided into 3 blocks that will accommodate up to 200 pupils, from primary school to upper class (1^st and 2^nd blocks). The 3^rd block will be dedicated for sport hall, conference hall and canteen.

In accordance with the project, the building is fully equipped with all required facilities to carry out standard state programs on physics, chemistry, and biology. The school also includes a language laboratory class and a computer class, as well as traditional classes (providing housekeeping or labour lessons and equipped with gas heaters, stitching machines or milling machines). Primary school block consist in classes for preschool learning with bedroom and playing room.

In addition to all the required facilities, the school has a treatment room, a dental room and a dedicated area for a psychologist.

 “By financing this modern building, KATCO, which is one of the largest employers in the Sozak Region of South Kazakhstan Oblast, is pleased to bring its contribution to the state program for the development of the educational base of the republic of Kazakhstan” says Konrad Schauer, KATCO General Director.