Wednesday 1 June 2011

Kazakhstan: New deputy oil minister appointed

Berik Tolumbaev has been appointed Kazakhstan's new deputy oil minister in place of Asset Mugauov, who has moved to become head of 120,000 b/d onshore producer. Mangistaumunaigas.

Born in 1962 in the Zhambyl oblast, Tolumbaev got his first high-profile position in 2001 when he was appointed deputy managing director of pipeline operator Kaztransoil (KTO), when the company was headed by Timur Kulibaev. He became head of KTO from 2006 until 2007 and from October 2009–April 2010 was general director of KMG-Transcaspiy, a fully-owned Kazmunaigas subsidiary set up to oversee plans to build a new cross-Caspian oil transportation network originating from the Kashagan field.

Tolumbaev's most recent post was as deputy akim (governor) of the West-Kazakhstan oblast, responsible for attracting foreign investment into the region. He remains very close to Kulibaev, Kazakh industry sources say.

Three deputy ministers serve under oil and gas supremo Sauat Mynbaev, who has held the post for more than three years (having previously been energy and natural resources minister): the other two are Lyazzat Kiinov, an oil industry veteran who comes from the west, and the younger Kanatbek Safinov.

For more news and expert analysis about the Caspian region, please see Caspian Focus.

© 2011 Menas Associates

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