TURKMEN OIL AND GAS MINISTER FIRED AFTER THREE MONTHS

UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000079 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN; EEB ENERGY FOR EKIMOFF/BURPOE/COHEN COMMERCE FOR DSTARKS/EHOUSE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON EPET PGOV EINV TX SUBJECT: TURKMEN OIL AND GAS MINISTER FIRED AFTER THREE MONTHS REF: 09 ASHGABAT 1295 ¶1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. ¶2. (SBU) On January 15, Turkmen President Berdimuhamedov signed a decree relieving Minister of Oil and Gas Industry and Mineral Resources Oraznur Nurmyradov from his position. The dismissal occurred during an expanded Cabinet meeting that reviewed government performance for 2009. According to local media, the presidential decree stated that Nurmyradov was fired for "serious shortcomings" in his work. ¶3. (SBU) Nurmyradov was appointed Minister of Oil and Gas Industry and Mineral Resources on October 12, 2009, in an astonishing rise from a section head at the Institute of Oil and Gas to a ministerial level position. Throughout his 28-year career in the oil and gas sector, Nurmyradov worked in various scientific and research institutions, but never worked in the area of hydrocarbon production and never held a managerial position, except for the three months he served as Minister of Oil and Gas. As a result, his appointment in October was a surprise for many energy officials in the country (reftel). ¶4. (SBU) According to Ministry of Oil and Gas officials we spoke with, Nurmyradov's poor performance in his ministerial capacity and incompetence triggered his dismissal, stressing that Nurmyradov's dismissal was not related to corruption or any other illegal activities. Some Ministry officials opined there is a rumor within Ministry walls that Deputy Chairman for Oil and Gas Baymyrat Hojamuhammedov was displeased with Nurmyradov's professional skills. They could not elaborate further, however. ¶5. (SBU) Bayramgeldi Nedirov, Deputy Minister of Oil and Gas Industry and Mineral Resources, was appointed Acting Minister for the second time in his career. He will serve in that capacity until a new minister is appointed, which can take up to several months. Previously, Nedirov served as Acting Minister from September to October 2008. ¶6. (SBU) COMMENT: The position of Minister of Oil and Gas Industry and Mineral Resources is clearly subordinate to Deputy Chairman for Oil and Gas Hojamuhammedov. Nurmyradov reportedly vaulted to Minister from obscurity at the request of Hojamuhammedov, and was dismissed three months later, reportedly when the Deputy Chairman became displeased with him. It is worth noting that Hojamuhammedov was not reprimanded by Berdimuhamedov at the cabinet meeting, as were four other Deputy Chairmen. Hojamuhammedov avoided criticism despite the fact that oil and gas production are below planned levels. This suggests that, for whatever reason, the Turkmen president continues to favor Hojamuhammedov, giving him influence on oil and gas sector decisions, at least for now. END COMMENT. CURRAN