July 01, 2026, in Elista, head of the State Natural Biosphere Blackland Reserve received a Charity Certificate for acquisition of equipment and gear.
The handover ceremony was attended by Gilyana Boskhomjiyeva, the chairperson of the Republic of Kalmykia Government, Mikhail Grishankov, CPC-R JSC Deputy General Director, Russian Federation Government Relations, Kairgeldy Kabyldin, CPC-K JSC Deputy General Director, Republic of Kazakhstan Government Relations, and Bataar Ubushaev, Director of Blackland State Natural Biosphere Reserve.
Gasoline-powered inverter generators, field radios, sets of protective gear and footwear for gamekeepers were purchased by the Caspian Pipeline Consortium as part of the environmental and educational project Protect Nature of Our Native Land. The Project has been implemented in the Republic of Kalmykia since 2014.
Blackland, the State Natural Biosphere Reserve was founded back in 1990. The reserve is the only range in Russia for preservation and research of the Kalmyk saiga population. Cooperation of CPC and the reserve dates back to 2016. In the course of ten years, the funds of the Consortium were applied to set up wells for watering wells, purchase off-road vehicles and specialized equipment, firefighting equipment, work clothes for gamekeepers, video surveillance and recording equipment.
The Protect Nature of Our Native Land Project, other than assisting the Blackland reserve, focuses on delivering open environmental lessons for children and youth, along with contests, exhibitions and stage performances, publishing of books and albums, planting of trees, installation of topiaries and other components of city urban planning. Owing to the support provided from 2015 through 2025, the population of the red-listed saiga species grew from 3.5 to 53 thousand.
In 2026, as part of the Protect Nature of Our Native Land Project, the participants of the young environmentalist forum got internships in laboratories and the Museum of the Kalmykia State B.B. Gorodovikov University. In the National library named after A.M. Amur-Sanan in Elista, a book trivia quiz was held - How wonderful you are, my steppe, in April. The Republican Drama and Comedy Theater presented a musical performance The Steppe and the People. The present day epic. The Druzhba park in Elista hosted an environmental Learning Nature quest for 100 school students. Saiga and sheep topiaries were installed in the Iki-Burul settlement park. In September, a photo exhibition will be set up in the Chernozemelsky Municipal Culture and Leisure Center, focusing on the nature of the steppe. Also, in 2026, schoolchildren and students of the Republic of Kalmykia will receive gifts of A Wonderful World of Kalmykia photobook and bookmarks with helpful tips.
For information:
CPC Pipeline System is one of the major projects in energy sector in the CIS. The length of the Tengiz – Novorossiysk pipeline is 1,511 km. This route transports over two-thirds of all Kazakhstan export oil, and crude from Russian oil fields, including those in the Caspian Region. CPC Marine Terminal is equipped with three Single Point Moorings (SPM) that enable safe tanker loading at a significant distance offshore.
CPC Shareholders: Russian Federation – 24 %, CPC Company (LLC) – 7%, KazMunayGas JSC – 19%, Kazakhstan Pipeline Ventures LLC – 1.75%, Chevron Caspian Pipeline Consortium Company – 15%, Lukoil International GmbH – 12.5%, Mobil Caspian Pipeline Company – 7.5%, Rosneft-Shell Caspian Ventures Limited – 7.5%, BG Overseas Holdings Limited – 2%, Eni International N.A. N.V. S.a.r.l. – 2% and Oryx Caspian Pipeline LLC – 1.75%.