Yerlan Akkenzhenov Appointed as Kazakhstan’s New Energy Minister

On March 19, Kazakh President Qasym-Jomart Toqayev appointed Yerlan Akkenzhenov as Minister of Energy, replacing Almasadam Satkaliyev, who now heads the Agency for Atomic Energy, Orda reports.

Akkenzhenov has extensive experience in oil and gas, having worked at KazMunayGas Trading House LLP, Chevron Texaco Global Trading (UK), and KMG structures in Singapore, Bulgaria, and Romania.

He returned to government service in 2022 and became Vice Minister of Energy in 2023.

Legal Battle

Akkenzhenov’s name surfaced in the trial of Daniyar Adilbekov, author of the Telegram channel "Dikaya Orda."

Adilbekov accused him of corruption and links to Karim Massimov’s former son-in-law, Azamat Kapenov.

During the trial, Adilbekov's lawyers claimed Akkenzhenov still owned Bitum Market LLP, a fuel company. He denied the accusations, stating:

This company has never sold gasoline... its operations have been suspended since 2022, from the moment I took up my job at JSC NC KazMunayGas, and the company is not operating to this day.

Adilbekov was sentenced to four and a half years in prison.

Akkenzhenov discussed the case with Orda in an exclusive interview.

He also noted that he had never met Karim Massimov, with whom the Dikaya Orda Telegram channel linked him. 

Adilbekov's lawyer claimed in court that Akkenzhenov was associated with several private companies related to Massimov's former son-in-law, Azamat Kapenov. The official categorically denied this, stating that he had not maintained contact with him since 2019.

Nothing that Adilbekov wrote about me was confirmed.

Akkenzhenov has previously announced plans to prioritize digitalization in oil distribution to enhance transparency and reduce corruption risks. He also announced plans for a fourth oil refinery in Kazakhstan, expected to process 10 million tons of oil by 2030.

Original Author: Ruslan Loginov