Nurlan Balgimbayev Kazakh statesman Date of Birth: 20.11.1947 Country: Kazakhstan

1. Early Life and Education
2. Career in the Oil Industry
3. International Experience
4. Political Career
5. Business and Public Service
6. Awards and Honors
7. Order of "Barys" II degree (1999)

Early Life and Education

Nurlen Balgimbayev is a prominent Kazakhstani statesman. He was born into the Ysyk clan of the Junior Juz, a Kazakh clan. He graduated from the Kazakh Polytechnic Institute and attained proficiency in the English language.

Career in the Oil Industry

Balgimbayev commenced his career in the oil industry of Kazakhstan in 1973. He worked for over a decade, rising through the ranks from an operator to the chief engineer of the "Zhaikneft" oil refinery and later the "Aktyubinskneft" association. From 1986 to 1992, he held the post of deputy head of several major departments within the Ministry of Oil and Gas Industry of the Soviet Union.

International Experience

In 1992, Balgimbayev pursued higher education at the University of Massachusetts in Boston, USA. Upon his return in 1993, he underwent an internship and worked at the Chevron Corporation.

Political Career

Balgimbayev's political career began in October 1994 when he was appointed Minister of Oil and Gas Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan. In March 1997, he assumed the presidency of the national oil and gas company "Kazakhoil."

From October 1997 to October 1999, Balgimbayev served as the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan. He returned to the presidency of Kazakhoil in October 1999, holding the position until February 2002.

Business and Public Service

Following the merger of Kazakhoil and the "Transport of Oil and Gas" company to form "KazMunaiGas" in 2002, Balgimbayev opted to leave the organization. He decided to establish a private oil company that would rival the size and influence of Kazakhoil.

Balgimbayev then ventured into private business, serving as the President of the Kazakhstan Oil Investment Company from February 2002 to December 2007. He also held a position on the board of directors of the Kherson Oil Refinery Complex in Ukraine from November 1999 to April 2004.

In December 2007, Balgimbayev was appointed as an advisor to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. He also held the role of Special Representative of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Caspian Sea Resources Utilization from February 2008 to November 2009.

Since December 2009, Balgimbayev has been the General Director of the organization responsible for implementing projects with the Italian oil and gas company Eni.

Awards and Honors

Balgimbayev's contributions have been recognized with several awards and honors, including:

Order of "Barys" II degree (1999)

Jubilee Medals for the 10th and 20th anniversaries of Astana and Kazakhstan's independence

Honorary Professor of the Satbayev Kazakh National Technical University (2003)