Exhibit 10.66




                             TRANSPORTATION CONTRACT

        Astana                                         January 31, 2000

                                    PREAMBLE

JSC NOC KazakhOil, hereinafter referred to as the "Company", in the person of
Executive Marketing Director Ms. A. M. Rakhimbekov, acting on the basis of the
Power of Attorney (1) 1-13 dated January 3, 2000, on the one side and JSC
Karakudukmunay, hereinafter referred to as the "Principal" in the person of
General Director Mr. N. D. Klinchev and Financial Director Mr. R. Moore, acting
on the basis of the Charter, on the other side, collectively referred to as the
"Parties", have entered into this Transportation Contract (the "Contract") and
hereby agree as follows:

                           1. SUBJECT OF THE CONTRACT

1.1  The Company, at the expense and on the instructions of the Principal, shall
     arrange transportation for export in batches to the far abroad of crude oil
     ("Commodity") belonging to the Principal and shall provide such other
     services in connection therewith as are provided in this Contract.

1.2  The volume of a batch of Commodity transported hereunder shall be
     determined in accordance with the monthly schedules of transit and
     distribution of Kazakhstany oil.


                        2. DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION

2.1  As used in the Contract, the following terms have the meanings indicated:

"Buyer" means STASCO in its capacity as Buyer under the Offtake Agreement and
any other person in its capacity as buyer under any Other Agreement.

"Commodity" is defined in item 1.1.

"Company" is defined in the Preamble to this Contract.

"Contract" is defined in the Preamble to this Contract.

"CPC Blend" means the blend of crude oil generally available at the CPC Terminal
that complies with minimum specifications agreed by the Principal and STASCO
pursuant to the Offtake Agreement.

"CPC Pipeline" means the pipeline being constructed by the Caspian Pipeline
Consortium from the Tengiz field to Novorossiysk.

"CPC Pipeline Operational Date" means the last day of the month in which (i) the
CPC Pipeline is completed, (ii) the Karakuduk Field is so connected with the CPC
Pipeline (via pipeline, rail link, or otherwise) that Karakuduk Crude Oil can
and will be evacuated to the CPC Terminal via the CPC Pipeline, (iii) the CPC
Pipeline commences pumping commercial quantities of crude oil as determined by
the Principal and STASCO pursuant to the Offtake Agreement, and (iv) if the CPC
Pipeline is only transporting Commodity on a blend (as opposed to batch) basis,
the Principal and STASCO have agreed on the specifications for CPC Blend
pursuant to the Offtake Agreement.

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"CPC Terminal" means the single buoy-mooring terminal being built by the Caspian
Pipeline Consortium near Novorossiysk.

"DAF" has the meaning given to "delivered at frontier" in the Incoterms 1990.

"Delivery Basis" means (i) during the "Principal Period", delivery of Commodity
on terms of DAF Adamovo, DAF Fenyeshlitke, DAF Budkovce, FOB sea-port Odessa,
FOB sea-port Novorossiysk, or FOB sea-port Ventspils, as applicable, and (ii)
during the "Secondary Period", delivery of Commodity on terms of FOB CPC
Terminal, in each case in accordance with the route indicated in the monthly
delivery schedules of the Company.

"Delivery Date" for a batch of Commodity means the date of execution of the last
acceptance-delivery act/bill of lading for that batch of Commodity in accordance
with item 4.1.vii.

"Delivery Month" means the period for delivery under the Offtake Agreement or
the Other Agreement, as applicable.

"Effective Date" means the date of actual execution of this Contract by the
Parties.

"FOB" has the meaning given to "free on board" in the Incoterms 1990.

"Initial Term" means the period commencing on the Effective Date and concluding
on the last day of the month in which the fifth anniversary of the Offtake
Agreement Effective Date falls.

"Karakuduk Crude Oil" means Commodity produced from the Karakuduk Field or from
such other field as the Principal and the Company may agree.

"Karakuduk Field" means the Karakuduk oil field in the Mangistau Oblast of the
Republic of Kazakhstan as more particularly described in the Petroleum Contract
and the License.

"Offtake Agreement" means that certain Crude Oil Sale and Purchase Agreement
between the Principal and STASCO dated 1 November 1999.

"Offtake Agreement Effective Date" means the "effective date" of and as defined
in the Offtake Agreement.

"Other Agreement" means any agreement other than the Offtake Agreement pursuant
to which the Principal sells Karakuduk Crude Oil.

"Parties" is defined in the Preamble to this Contract.

"Petroleum Contract" means that certain Agreement for Exploration, Development
and Production of Oil in Karakuduk Oil Field in Mangistau Oblast of the Republic
of Kazakhstan between the Ministry of Oil and Gas Industries of the Republic of
Kazakhstan for and on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and
the Principal.

"License" means License No. MG#249 (Oil) dated 25 June 1995 (as subsequently
amended) granted to the Principal by the Government of the Republic of
Kazakhstan.

"Principal" is defined in the Preamble to this Contract.

"Principal Period" means the period from the Effective Date to the CPC Pipeline
Operational Date.

"REBCO" means Commodity that satisfies the specifications of TU-39-1623-93
"Russian oil delivered for export; Specifications" for export to the far abroad.

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"Secondary Period" means the period from the CPC Pipeline Operational Date to
the date of termination of this Contract (inclusive).

"STASCO" means Shell Trading International Limited acting through its agent
Shell International Trading and Shipping Company Limited.

"Tenge" means official currency of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

2.2 In this Contract, unless the context otherwise requires:

i.   Headings are used for convenience only and do not affect the interpretation
     of this Contract;

ii.  any expression, which means individual, includes any company, Partnership,
     trust, joint venture, association, corporation, or other corporate
     organization and vice versa;

iii. references to Articles and Sections, unless otherwise expressly provided in
     this Contract, are references to articles and sections of this Contract;

iv.  except as otherwise expressly provided, any reference to a document
     includes an amendment or supplement to, or replacement or renovation of,
     that document;

v.   a reference to any Party to this Agreement and to any other document
     includes that Party's legal successors and assigns;

vi.  words, which mean the singular, also include the plural and vice versa;

vii. the word "including" means "including without limitation";

viii. a "business day" means a day (other than a Saturday or a Sunday) on which
     banks are open for ordinary banking business in London;

ix.  "tonne" is a metric ton; and

x.   a "year" means a calendar year, a "quarter" means a calendar quarter, and a
     "month" means a calendar month.


                                   3. QUALITY

3.1  Unless otherwise agreed by the Parties, the Principal shall at all times
     deliver to the Company Karakuduk Commodity pursuant to this Contract. The
     Company shall ensure that (i) during the Principal Period, the quality of
     Commodity delivered at the relevant delivery point shall be REBCO, and (ii)
     during the Secondary Period, the quality of Commodity delivered at the CPC
     Terminal shall be Karakuduk Commodity for segregated batch deliveries or
     shall be CPC Blend for deliveries for which segregated batch delivery is
     not available.

4. OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES

4.1  At all times during the term of this Contract, the Company shall:

(i)  Assist in obtaining required official export permissions (certificate of
     origin of the Commodity at place the load output, customs declaration on
     Commodity output) for release of the batch of Commodity being delivered
     from the customs territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan;

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(ii) accept Karakuduk Commodity from the Principal at Metering Point 719 (PSP
     Samara of the Western branch office of KazTransOil) and arrange its
     transportation for export in accordance with the Delivery Basis;

(iii) execute all customs formalities to carry out transit transportation of the
     batch of Commodity through the territory of Russian Federation and the
     countries of the C.I.S.;

(iv) procure sending of a route telegram to AK Transneft;

(v)  procure delivery of the indicated Commodity to the Buyer on the Delivery
     Basis, less operating losses in transportation of the Commodity, that are
     charged to the Principal's account;

(vi) procure berthing for the Buyer's tanker and delivery of the batch of
     Commodity to such tanker through the Company's agents in the relevant port;

(vii) timely present to the Principal the Acts of acceptance-delivery of the
     Commodity (oil)/Bills of Lading executed at the Delivery Basis. (During the
     Principal Period, Acts of acceptance-delivery executed on the DAF basis
     (Adamovo, Fenyeshlitke or Budkovce) shall be presented in one copy, Bills
     of Lading and sets of shipping documents attached to them executed on the
     FOB basis (Odessa, Novorossiysk or Ventspils) shall be presented in the
     number of copies specified in the Buyer's instructions, and during the
     Secondary Period, such documents as may be required at that time executed
     on the FOB CPC Terminal basis shall be presented according to the list and
     in the number of copies as it would be agreed between Principal, Company
     and CPC;

(viii) provide the Principal with information on the status of execution of this
     Contract;

(ix) on the Principal's request, prepare analyses of the Buyer's calculations of
     prices;

(x)  cooperate with the Principal, to render, if possible, such assistance that
     can prove necessary for the Principal to perform its obligations under the
     Offtake Agreement or any other contract with the Buyer regarding Commodity;
     and

(xi) during the term of this Contract, observe all provisions of this Contract
     and other terms and conditions agreed upon with the Principal.

4.2  At all times during the term of this Contract, the Principal shall:

(i)  Deliver Karakuduk Commodity to the Company at Metering Point 719 (PSP
     Samara of the Western branch office of KazTransOil) in the amount
     determined in accordance with item 1.2 of this Agreement;

(ii) independently conclude contracts with the Buyer on selling Crude Oil for
     export and submit a copy of each such contract with the Buyer to the
     Company 5 days before the beginning of the relevant Delivery Month;

(iii) obtain, at its own expense, required official export permissions
     (certificate of origin of the Commodity at place of the load output,
     customs declaration on Commodity output) for release of the batch of
     Commodity being delivered from the customs territory of the Republic of
     Kazakstan and deliver them before the 5th day of the Delivery Month;

(iv) if the Delivery Basis is DAF, provide the Company before the 5th day of the
     Delivery Month with a copy of confirmation from AK Transneft on its
     readiness to accept the agreed batch of Commodity from coordinators at the
     relevant directions;

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(v)  if the Delivery Basis is FOB, to provide the Company and the Company's
     agent in the relevant port 5 days before the agreed upon loading period
     (Laycan) with the Buyer's instructions on filling in the shipping
     documents, including name of the vessel, its characteristics, loading
     period (Laycan), lay time and other necessary data;

(vi) make a 100% pre-payment for transportation of the batch of Commodity
     through the territory of Russian Federation and the CIS countries, in
     accordance with the Payment Order of AK Transneft;

(vii) pay the additional expenses if the transport tariffs are increased,
     providing the Company presents the appropriate documents;

(viii) reimburse the Company for the cost of execution of the customs
     declaration at the Energy customs office of the RF in accordance with the
     Company's invoice;

(ix) reimburse the Company for all expenses reasonably incurred in connection
     with the performance by the Company of its obligations under this Contract
     within 30 (thirty) days of delivery to the Principal of proper invoices and
     other supporting documents for such expenses;

(x)  pay the Company's fee for the services rendered under Article 5 hereof, in
     accordance with the invoice and tax invoice;

(xi) provide copies of all payment documents;

(xii) pay all transportation and other expense of KazTransOil on the territory
     of Kazakhstan under its contract with KazTransOil;

(xiii) to make all necessary payments to the budget of the Republic of
     Kazakhstan related to excise taxes, VAT and other obligatory payments to
     the budget in accordance with the tax legislation

(xiv) during the term of this Contract, observe all provisions of this Contract
     and other terms and conditions agreed upon with the Company.


                       5. COMPANY'S FEE AND PAYMENT TERMS

5.1  The Principal shall pay the Company a fee of $1.00 (one dollar), inclusive
     of VAT, per one net tonne of Commodity shipped pursuant to this Contract.

5.2  The Principal shall pay the commission fee for each delivered batch of
     Commodity to the Company's account within 30 (thirty) banking days after
     the Delivery Date.

5.3  The payment shall be made in accordance with the invoice presented by the
     Company and the tax invoice (original or a fax copy) in Tenge at the
     official exchange rate of the National Bank of the Republic of Kazakhstan
     effective on the Delivery Date in accordance with item 4.1.vii.


                         6. PERIOD AND TERMS OF LOADING

6.1  Commodity will be shipped by the Company in batches during the period from
     the Effective Date through the term of this Contract subject to (i) the
     Principal having the requisite supplies of Commodity and (ii) the Principal
     having entered into the Offtake Agreement or another Agreement with the
     Buyer.

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6.2  The Company shall have a right to deliver Commodity to the Buyer with a
     permissible +/-5% deviation from the number of batches of Commodity.


                 7. OWNERSHIP RIGHT AND RISK OF ACCIDENTAL LOSS

7.1  Ownership right and risk of loss with respect to all Commodity transported
     under this Contract, shall remain with the Principal at all times prior to
     transfer of the ownership right and risk of loss with respect to such
     Commodity to the Buyer in accordance with the Delivery Basis. At no time
     shall the Company have the ownership right to any Commodity transported
     under this Contract.

7.2  At any time in accordance with reasonable requirements of the Principal,
     the Company shall confirm the Principal's ownership rights to Commodity,
     transported under this Contract.

7.3  At any time the Principal may insure this Contract at his own expense, and
     the Company shall render feasible assistance to the Principal in this case.


                             8. LIABILITY; INDEMNITY


8.1  The Parties shall be liable for non-execution and/or improper execution of
     their obligations under this Agreement in accordance with the legislation
     of the Republic of Kazakstan.

8.2  In case if the Principal violates the conditions of this Contract, and such
     violation entails infringement of the Off-take Agreement conditions by the
     Principal, then the Principal shall be solely liable in front of the
     Purchaser for such violations. In addition, the Company shall not be liable
     in front of the Principal or the Purchaser hereunder.

8.3  In case if violation by the Principal of the Off-take Agreement conditions
     takes place due to infringement by the Company of its liabilities in front
     of the Principal under this Contract, the Company shall be soley liable in
     front of the Principal for such losses resulting from such violation ,
     evidenced and supported by confirming documents ..



                             9. TERM OF THE CONTRACT

9.1  In accordance with items 9.3, 9.4, and 10.3, this Contract shall come into
     force on the Effective Date, remain effective throughout the Initial Term,
     and be prolonged, or further extended automatically for a period of 12
     months, each such extension commencing at the end of the last day of the
     Initial Term or the relevant anniversary thereof, unless either Party
     serves written notice of termination on the other Party at least 65 days
     prior to the end of the Initial Term, or any subsequent extension.

9.2  Any notice of termination served by any Party with violation of the period
     of notice required by item 9.1 shall be invalid and of no effect
     whatsoever.

9.3  If the Company fails to perform within 30 days upon notice from the
     Principal on nonperformance by the Company of any of its obligations under
     this Contract, and keeps non-performing it, then the Principal may upon
     expiry of the indicated 30 day period, terminate this Contract, with
     obligatory accounts settling.

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9.4  If the Principal fails to perform within 30 days upon notice from the
     Company on nonperformance by the Principal of any of its obligations under
     this Contract, and keeps non-performing it, then the Company is entitled,
     upon expiry of such 30 day period, to terminate this Contract, with
     obligatory accounts settling.


                                10. FORCE-MAJEURE

10.1 Except for the obligations to make any payment, required by this Contract
     (which shall not be subject to relief under this item), a Party shall not
     be in breach of this Contract and liable to the other Party for any failure
     to fulfil any obligation under this Contract to the extent any fulfillment
     has been interfered with, hindered, delayed, or prevented by any
     circumstance whatsoever, which is not reasonably within the control of and
     is unforeseeable by such Party and if such Party exercised due diligence,
     including acts of God, fire, flood, freezing, landslides, lightning,
     earthquakes, fire, storm, floods, washouts, and other natural disasters,
     wars (declared or undeclared), insurrections, riots, civil disturbances,
     epidemics, quarantine restrictions, blockade, embargo, strike, lockouts,
     labor disputes, or restrictions imposed by any government.

10.2 The Party affected by the indicated circumstances shall be excused from
     performance or accurate performance, as the case may be, of such obligation
     for so long as such circumstance continues to exist. The Party affected
     shall promptly, at any rate, within twenty-four (24) hours from the receipt
     of information about the occurrence of such event must notify the other
     Party on the occurrence of such circumstances and on the obligations
     affected.

10.3 If performance of the obligations by any Party under this Contract have
     been delayed for a period of 3 months, the other Party shall be entitled to
     terminate this Contract thereafter by giving notice to that effect to the
     Party claiming relief under Section 10, with obligatory accounts settling.

10.4 No circumstance described in item 10.1 shall result in prolongation of the
     validity term of this Contract.


                  11. SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES AND APPLICABLE LAW

11.1 In the event of any disputes arousal under this Contract, the Parties shall
     exercise all reasonable efforts to resolve them by negotiations.

11.2 In the event that resolution of the disputes by negotiations is impossible,
     they shall be subject to court consideration at the defendant's location.

11.3 Effective legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan shall apply to any
     relations of the Parties arising out of this Contract.


                     12. MISCELLANEOUS TERMS AND CONDITIONS

12.1 Neither Party shall be entitled to assign any of its rights or duties
     hereunder to any third parties without a written consent of the other Party
     thereto.

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12.2 Any amendments or alterations to this Contract shall be considered valid
     only if executed in writing and signed by the authorized representatives of
     the Company and the Principal. Usage of facsimile communication for signing
     the above mentioned amendments and alterations shall be acceptable.

12.3 From and after the Effective Date, all prior negotiations and
     correspondence pertinent to the Contract shall have no legal force.

12.4 In all other matters not stipulated in this Contract, relations of the
     Parties shall be governed by the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan
     in force.

12.5 The Parties shall guarantee observance of confidentiality in respect to any
     information and documentation received hereunder; provided, that nothing in
     this item shall restrict either Party from disclosing details of or
     relating to this Contract information (i) to any shareholder of such Party,
     (ii) to any creditor to such Party, (iii) to any person considering to
     become a shareholder of or creditor to such Party, (iv) to the extent
     necessary to comply with any laws or regulations applicable to such Party.

12.6 Any attachments to this Contract shall be an integral part hereof.

12.7 This Contract has been executed in 2 (two) original copies in both the
     Russian language and the English language, one copy in each language for
     each of the Parties, in addition, the Russian text of the Contract has
     priority.


                               13. REPRESENTATIONS

13.1 Each Party represents to the other Party that:

i.   It is duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the
     jurisdiction of its incorporation or registration and, if provided under
     such laws, in good standing;

ii.  it has the power to sign and deliver this Contract and has undertaken all
     necessary measures to authorize such signing, delivery and execution;

iii. such signing and delivery do not violate or conflict with any law
     applicable to it, any provisions of its constitutional documents, any
     orders or judgements of any court or another agency of government
     applicable to it or any of its assets or any contractual restrictions
     binding on or affecting it or any of its assets;

iv.  all governmental and other permits which are required to have been obtained
     by it with respect to this Contract, have been obtained and have full legal
     force; and all conditions of any such permits have been complied with; and

v    obligations of such Party under this Contract constitute its legal, valid
     and binding obligations, enforceable in accordance with its respective
     terms (subject to applicable bankruptcy, re-organization, insolvency,
     moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and
     subject, as to the enforceability, to equitable principles of general
     application (regardless of whether enforcement on execution of this
     Contract is sought in a proceeding in equity or under law)).

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                                14. MISCELLANEOUS

14.1 This Contract constitutes the entire agreement of the Parties with respect
     to the subject matter of this Contract and the Parties acknowledge that
     they do not enter into this Contract regardless of any previous contacts
     between the Parties or their affiliates.

14.2 Any amendments or alterations to any of the terms of this Contract shall be
     effective unless they are registered in writing and signed by or on behalf
     of each of the Parties; no waiver of any provision hereof shall be
     effective unless it is in writing and signed by the Party, against which
     such waiver is sought to be enforced.

14.3 Except as expressly provided herein, the rights, authorities and remedies,
     provided in this Contract, are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights,
     authorities and remedies provided by the law.

14.4 Except as expressly provided herein no delay or omission on the part of
     either Party in exercising any rights, authorities or remedies, provided by
     law or under this Contract, nor any indulgence granted by any Party to
     another Party, shall impair such rights, authorities or remedies, or be
     construed as a waiver thereof; moreover, no single or partial exercise of
     any right, power or remedy provided by law or under this Contract shall
     hinder other or further exercise thereof, as well as exercise of any other
     right, power or remedy.

14.5 This Contract does not confer rights or remedies upon any person other than
     the Principal and the Company.



                  15. LEGAL ADDRESSES AND PROPS OF THE PARTIES

             COMPANY:                                      PRINCIPAL

JSC NOC KazakhOil                                    JSC Karakudukmunay
473000, Republic of Kazakhstan, Astana,         466200, Aktau, Mangistau oblast
60, Republic avenue                                District 3, Building 82
Tel.: (3172) 280609, fax 327724                 Tel.: (3292) 513795, fax 518336
TRN 600700150675                                       TRN 430600001175

Bank props:                                               Bank props:
Tenge account (1) 000467052                           AB Neftebank, Aktau
in Akmola affiliate of                           Tenge account (1) 609614
JSC "Almaty trade and finance bank", Astana
IAT 195301730                                           IAT 192901705

/s/ Amangeldy Tlegenov                              /s/ Nikolai D. Klinchev
--------------------------------------------     -------------------------------
A.M. Rakhimbekov                                       Nikolai Klinchev


                                                      /s/ Richard J. Moore
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                        Richard Moore

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