ATYRAU (KazInform) – Kazakh city of Atyrau and Marseilles became sister cities.

Marseille
Marseille was historically the most important trade centre in the region and functioned as the main trade port of the French Empire. Marseille is France’s largest city on the Mediterranean coast and largest commercial port.

“Kazakhstan is a very promising and attractive partner for cooperation. Marseilles and Atyrau have much in common. The port French city, as well as Atyrau, develops refineries, chemical plants, fishing industry and pharmaceuticals. In addition, we propose to develop tourism. I hope that we will find common interests that will be beneficial for both countries”, General Consul of France in Almaty Patrick Renard said at a meeting with Governor of Atyrau region.

General Consul noted that in Atyrau operate 4 companies with the participation of French investments.

Atyrau is the capital of Atyrau Province and located at the mouth of the Ural River, 2700 km west of Almaty and 351 km east of the Russian city of Astrakhan. Modern Atyrau is famous for its oil industry. The third biggest refinery in Kazakhstan is located in Atyrau which is operated by KazMunayGas and has a capacity of 16,600 m³/day (2012). A deep oil refining complex is under construction which is the final stage of complete reconstruction of Atyrau Oil Refinery. This project is designed to process 2.4 mln tons/year of raw materials (oil, vacuum gas oil). The project will increase the depth of the oil processing at the refinery by 2016 to 85%. The volume of oil refining will reach 5.5 mln tons per year.

Atyrau has 154,100 inhabitants (2007), up from 142,500 (1999 census), 90% ethnic Kazakhs (up from 80%), the rest being mostly Russians and other ethnic groups such as Tatars and Ukrainians.