Up to 140 injured in Kazakh oilfield brawl

ALMATY, Oct 20 (Reuters) - Up to 140 people were injured in a mass brawl today between Kazakh and Turkish workers at an oil production facility in western Kazakhstan, the joint venture operating the facility and Kazakh media said.

Tengizchevroil, a joint venture led by US oil major Chevron that is developing Kazakhstan's giant Tengiz field, said in a statement that ''unrest'' broke out among contractors building a second-generation plant.

''Preliminary information indicates that approximately ten individuals will require medical care outside of Tengiz but none of the injuries are life threatening,'' it said, adding that the construction side will remain closed pending investigation.

The statement did not say what exactly happened.

Kazakhstan Today news agency, citing officials from the local general prosecutor's office, said 140 people were injured in a mass brawl between Kazakh and Turkish workers during lunch at a canteen.

''Several cars and a container filled with protective gear were burnt,'' the agency quoted unnamed officials as saying.

Chevron officials were not available to comment on the Kazakhstan Today report which said the fight occurred after a Kazakh worker tried to jump the queue to get his lunch.

Other shareholders in Tengizchevroil are ExxonMobil with 25 per cent, Kazakh state firm KazMunaiGas with 20 per cent and a venture between BP and LUKOIL with five per cent.

Tengiz is one of the world's biggest oilfields. Its recoverable reserves amount to around 1.3 billion tonnes of oil.

REUTERS BDP VV2004