Kazakhstan premier has changed the head of oil and gas company Kazmunaigas

/REUTERS, Astana, March 12, 03/ - Kazakhstan prime-minister announced about appointing of Uzakbay Karabalin the head of the national oil and gad company Kazmunaigas, and Lyazzat Kiinov - deputy minister of power engineering. "I have signed two orders, according to which Kiinov is appointed deputy minister of power engineering, and Karabalin - head of Kazmunaigas", - press-secretary of the prime-minister Murat Buldekbayev quoted him. Before Karabalin carried out functions of the president of state company Kazakhoil, and also headed the state company Kaztransgas. Till the latest time he worked as deputy minister of power engineering and mineral resources. National oil and gas company Kazmunaigas, whose assets are more than $3 bn, was founded by the decree of Kazakhstan president in February of last year by means of joining the national oil and gas company Kazakhoil and state-owned holding Transport of oil and gas. Kazmunaigas, which was funded again, was headed by former akim (head) of Mangistau oblast Lyazzat Kiinov. Vertically integrated company Kazmunaigas intends to increase oil production in 2003 up to 7.5 m tons from 7.4 m tons in 2002. The company also intends to get down to development of four structures at the shelf of Caspian sea shelf and start industrial working out of gas field Amangeldy. Kazmunaigas will also have 50% market share in all new projects at Kazakhstan Caspian shelf. Kazakhstan, whose major export goods is oil and metals, intends to increase production of oil and gas condensate in this year up to 52.7 m tons from 47.2 m tons in 2002. [2003-03-12]