I often claim that Kazakhstan is not quirky enough. The government propaganda to sell the country’s image focus on economic statistics and populations of wolves, and not the interesting and eclectic factoids that would attract tourists and grab the interest of Americans. Holidays are celebrated in very official style with a big concert, the akim or the President giving a speech, and people waving flags. None of the spontaneous celebrations you might see in the West.

And then sometimes I am proven very very wrong. Kostanai has unveiled the first statue of Charlie Chaplin in Kazakhstan. Before you scratch your head too much wondering why people in Kostanai are crazy over Chaplin, I should note that it was a present from the Kazakhstan-France Center. No, that doesn’t make much sense either. From the story on Kostanai.net, I gather that the Kazakhstan France Center is trying to spread sculptures of great people around the world [RU]. And why not Kazakhstan?

Neweurasia.net notes that the only movie theater in Kostanai was recently demolished. But the benches there are great for little hobos.

After the recent scandal over the Kashgan oilfields, it is a bit surprising to hear that estimates of when the field will start producing
have been pushed back again, to 2012-2013. Eni, the Italian oil company which held the controlling share in the consortium that is developing the Kashgan field, was criticized and threatened with sanctions earlier this year when they announced that oil production would likely start in 2011, instead of 2007 as originally promised. In the ensuing hullabaloo, including meetings between the head of Eni and President Nazarbayev, all members of the consortium (including Eni, KazMunaiGas, Total, Exxon and Shell) agreed to double KazMunaiGas’ share in the project.

What the reaction will be now that the project is being pushed back further is unclear, but CNN quotes Interfax as saying the Minister of Energy will sanction the company if delays occur: “‘We’re trying to come to an agreement again,’ Mynbayev said.”

Some estimates claim that Kashgan holds 13 billion barrels of oil, which would make Kazakhstan a very large player on the oil scene once production begins.