NEW LEADER AT KAZAKHTRANSOIL.

Rounding off the changes at the top of Kazakhstan’s oil sector, Erlan Upushev was appointed yesterday to the post of president of the state company Kazakhtransoil. The company operates the country’s pipeline system; and it represents Kazakhstan in the Caspian Pipeline Consortium, composed of leading U.S., West European, and Russian oil companies. The consortium plans to build a multibillion-dollar pipeline from Kazakhstan’s Tengiz oilfield to the Russian Black Sea port Novorossiisk. Upushev, a graduate of Kazakhstan’s National Economy Institute, is twenty-nine years old and has been a vice-president of Kazakhtransoil. He succeeds Nurlan Kapparov at the top of the organization. (International and Russian agencies, April 22). On the previous day, President Nursultan Nazarbaev replaced the president of Kazakhoil (which handles oil extraction) and the energy minister for unsatisfactory performance. Kapparov became president of Kazakhoil (see Monitor, April 22). –VS

KAZAKHSTANI STEELWORKS RECEIVES SYNDICATED LOAN.