RussNeft and Russian State University of oil and gas jointly implement educational project.

Joint educational project of OAO NK RussNeft and RSU of oil and gas initiated by Mikhail Gutseriev, president of the Company, commenced as yearly as in 2010. The scope of the project enlarged in 2011 covering now Western Siberia besides the Volga river region: similar Regional preparation department (RPD) was opened in Raduzhny under auspices of OAO Varyoganneft, NK RussNeft’s subsidiary. There are currently 34 students in the 1^st and 2^nd years of the Gubkin RSU who are former graduates of Saratov and Raduzhny RPD’s.

Over 50 future applicants have enrolled into the Volga river region and Siberia RPD’s this autumn. 29 high school students of Saratov and Ulyanovsk regions (where a number of the Company’s subsidiaries operate) started preparation for following study in Saratov. Most of them are children of the Company’s employees from OAO Saratovneftegaz, OAO Ulyanovskneft and their subsidiaries. Besides, 8 people became RPD students this year through recommendations from Saratov region municipal district administrations where OAO Saratovneftegaz operation facilities are located. Those are winners of various competitions and Olympiads who had demonstrated excellent knowledge of the profile disciplines.

Oleg Afonin, Vice-minister of education of Saratov region, spoke at the RDP inauguration ceremony stressing that the main task of the students now is to dive fully into the studies trying to absorb as much information as given. Indeed, it is both prestigious and reliable to start the career in such a respected company as RussNeft after graduating from the Gubkin RSU – young specialists will not have to worry about finding a job and their future since the Company guarantee placements for the graduates.

The strategic objective of the project is to prepare high grade specialists for further work in OAO RussNeft and subsidiaries within the corporate structure of the Company.

There is no doubt that another advantage of the project is that it gives equal opportunities to future applicants for enrollment into a major oil and gas university of Russia regardless their residence – whether they are form a big regional center or from the country.

Studies at the regional preparation department of the University on profile disciplines (mathematics and physics) are exercised by professors of the Gubkin RSU of oil and gas. Specially developed training programs provide for both off-site sessions within 2012-2013 and serious independent remote work under supervision of the professors. The training at the preparation department will allow the high school graduates to prepare most efficiently for the high school uniform state exams and eventual enrollment into the oil and gas University. OAO NK RussNeft undertook to pay for the applicants training at the preparation department.

Management of operation of the regional preparation department is another critical stage of implementation of the holding’s program for preparation of young highly qualified specialists who will eventually be procured in the assets of OAO NK “RussNeft” and in the industry in general, according to the press service statement.