The repeated delays at Kazakhstan's flagship Kashagan oil project, which will not come on stream for another two years despite almost $50 billion spent, has prompted the republic's President Nursultan Nazarbaev to instigate a major shake-up of the energy sector which he described as being "in disarray" (IOD Aug.4'14). In a series of measures announced Wednesday, Nazarbaev created a new giant energy ministry, which will take over the functions of the oil and gas ministry, as well as industry, technology and environmental protection. The man in charge of the new ministry is veteran industry insider Vladimir Shkolnik, who was previously head of state uranium producer Kazatomprom. His secondin-command will be Uzakbai Karabalin, who for the past year has been head of the oil and gas ministry, which no longer exists.
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