A bus for national and international tours was handed over by Nikolay Gorban, General Director of Caspian Pipeline Consortium, and Astrakhan Oblast Governor Aleksandr Zhilkinin to the Astrakhan State Song and Dance Ensemble in Astrakhan on 15 March 2018. Mikhail Grishankov, CPC-R Deputy General Director, Radik Kharisov, Deputy Chairman of the Astrakhan Oblast Government, Astrakhan Oblast Minister of Industry, Transport and Natural Resources, and Galina Zoteeva, Minister of Culture, and other officials participated in a formal ceremony to hand over the Scania Irizar K440EB bus in front of the Astrakhan State Theater of Opera and Ballet.
This Ensemble is iconic for the region and well-known not only in Russia, but abroad. The Astrakhan State Song and Dance Ensemble is an all-time participant in important events and functions arranged by the government and has had hundreds of tours across Russia and neighboring and far abroad countries.
A tour lasts up to two months at the longest. With that, every tour has a tight timetable: the Ensemble gives daily concerts in numerous cities and seldom has one-day breaks. That’s why the artists have to rest and recover on the road.
The Scania Irizar K440EB bus purchased by CPC is in line with all the international standards for international trips and the Ensemble’s expectations. The bus has 60 seats to easily accommodate the traveling Ensemble. It is fitted with a WC, a kitchenette, and an entertainment system. There are lie-flat seats and the artists can have a good rest during night trips. Air conditioning and heating provide more comfort. There is a spacious luggage compartment for musical and stage equipment and outfits.
Caspian Pipeline Consortium has allocated almost RUR 25 million for the purchase of the bus.
For reference:
CPC pipeline system is one of the largest investment projects in the energy industry with participation of foreign capital on the CIS territory. The length of the pipeline connecting the oil fields in Western Kazakhstan with the Marine Terminal near Novorossiysk is 1,511 km. CPC Marine Terminal is equipped with single point moorings which allow for safe tanker lifting at a considerable distance from the shore, also when the weather conditions are unfavorable.
CPC Shareholders: Russian Federation (represented by Transneft – 24% and CPC Company – 7 %) – 31%; Republic of Kazakhstan (represented by KazMunayGaz – 19% and Kazakhstan Pipeline Ventures LLC – 1.75%) – 20.75%; Chevron Caspian Pipeline Consortium Company - 15%, LUKARCO B.V. – 12.5%, Mobil Caspian Pipeline Company – 7.5%, Rosneft-Shell Caspian Ventures Limited – 7.5%, BG Overseas Holding Limited - 2%, Eni International N.A. N.V. - 2% и Oryx Caspian Pipeline LLC – 1.75%.