KAZAKHSTAN - Profile - Lyazzat Kiinov.

Made KazMunaiGaz (KMG) President in February 2002 as the group was formed from a merger of KazakhOil and TransNefteGaz (TNG), Kiinov has since become a powerful decision maker in the petroleum sector. But his powers depend more on the co-operation of KMG's First Vice President Timur Kulibayev than on Kiinov's own position. Veterans in this sector say Kiinov treads carefully, and would have to keep doing so, lest Kulibayev would take his place.

Kiinov, aged 52, was formerly governor of the oil-rich Mangistau region in western Kazakhstan. He also headed MangistauMunaiGaz, the oil producer in that region. Asked during an April 2002 conference in Almaty why KMG had been creased, Kiinov said President Nazarbayev had deemed it necessary in view of the forthcoming development of the 120 offshore blocks in the northern Caspian Sea - which are to be auctioned later in the year and in which KMG should have a stake of 51%. Kiinov also said that, while KMG will organise the auction as well as oversee all the PSAs in Kazakhstan on behalf of the state, the company will also complete with foreign firms in developing its own blocks onshore and offshore. He added that Kazakhstan no longer wanted to be solely dependent on foreign oil companies, saying: "We have learned a lot from our Western colleagues and now we can participate as equals".