Azerbaijan, Baku / corr Trend S.Aliyev / Staff changes are expected or have taken place in the representative offices of the two largest shareholders of Agip KCO consortium, which is involved in the development of the Kashagan field.
The staff changes will involve senior management of the two biggest shareholders of the consortium, namely ExxonMobil and Royal Dutch/Shell, which hold an 18.52% stake each.
New appointment Steven Rose headed the Kazakh representation of ExxonMobil and held the post of the Executive Director. Rose is a professional oilman with more than 30 years experience and has worked in Nigeria during the last 3 years. For a period of time Rose participated in ExxonMobil's supervision over Tengiz field and the development of a concept on Kashagan field at early stages.
The current head of the Kazakh representation of Shell Martin Ferstle, is expected to leave his post. Although the candidate for this position has not been named, he is expected to be a specialist who is very familiar with the specifics of the Caspian region.
A senior ranking oilmen of Kazakhstan said such casting by investors is a response to actions by the Government of Kazakhstan.
Sauat Minbayev took up the position as Kazakh Minister for Energy and Mineral Resources, on the eve of serious talks on the future of Kashagan. Introducing the new minister to the Government, the then Prime Minister, Karim Masimov, said that they are able to fulfill the new tasks set by the head of State in terms of utilizing natural wealth. Specialists have stated that in the face of Sauat Minbayev, the Government has strengthened its position in backing the country's national interests.