Timur Kulibayev

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Timur Askarovich Kulibayev (Kazakh: Тимур Құлыбаев; Russian: Тимур Аскарович Кулибаев) is a prominent Kazakh businessman, and son-in-law of Kazakh president Nursultan Nazarbayev. He is the former vice-president of KazMunaiGaz, the state-run oil and gas company, and continues to command immense influence throughout the country's hydrocarbon industry.[1][2] With a net worth of $2.1 billion, he is one of the richest men in Kazakhstan[3]. Kulibayev is often mentioned as a possible successor to Nazarbayev. [4][5][6][7]


Contents

[edit] Personal Life

Timur Kulibayev was born on September 10th, 1966 in Almaty, Kazakhstan. He is from the Shaprashty tribe of the Greater Zhuz, the same tribe as President Nazarbayev.[5] His father, Askar Kulibayev, was a notable governmental figure, serving as the First Secretary of the Gurev (now Atyrau) Oblast branch of the Communist Party of Kazakhstan, then as the Construction and Material Resources minister.[8] Timur's older brother, Talgat, is a general in the interior ministry.[9]

In 1988 Kulibayev graduated from Moscow State University with a degree in economics.[10]

He is married to Dinara Kulibayeva (formerly Nazarbayeva), the middle daughter of Kazakhstani President Nursultan Nazarbayev. Dinara currently heads the National Education Fund and, along with her husband, is one of the wealthiest people in Kazakhstan.[11][12]

He is an avid fan of sports, especially golf, and often competes in golf tournaments.[13]

[edit] Business Career

Kulibayev began his business career in the 1990s when he joined the petroleum section of the Financial Ministry. In 1997 control of the oil industry was transferred to KazakhOil, and Kulibayev was made vice president of the company. In 2000 Kulibayev became CEO of KazTransOil, the pipeline division of KazakhOil. The next year he was promoted to CEO of TransNefteGaz, which controlled all oil and natural gas pipelines in the country. In 2002 the holding company KazMunaiGas was created, and Kulibayev began a three year stretch as the company's vice president.[14]

In October 2005 Kulibayev stepped down from his position at KazMunaiGas. Two months later, he was named chairman of KazEnergy.[15][16]

In June 2006 Kulibayev returned to KazMunaiGas as its president and chairman of its board of directors.[14] Around the same time Kulibayev was also named head of the new state-holding company Samruk in 2006, however he was removed from this post in early 2007.[17] Some analysts saw this as an attempt by Nazarbayev to prevent Kulibayev from growing too strong, especially considering the recent fall of a Kulibayev political opponent, Rakhat Aliyev.[18][19][17]

Timur and Dinara Kulibayev control the Almex holding group (they both own 50% of the company).[20] The group's holdings include Halyk Bank, one of the largest banks in the country.[21][22]

Kulibayev's personal cooperation is seen as essential for any foreign company hoping to do business in Kazakhstan's oil sector.[23][24]

[edit] Political Career

Kulibayev, though never holding an elected position, still wields notable political influence in the country.

[edit] Political Alliances

Kulibayev is considered to be the head of one of the main political "factions" within President Nazarbayev's inner circle.[25] He is often seen as competing against a rival family faction led by Dariga Nazarbayeva and her former husband, Rakhat Aliyev. [26][27] The Kulibayev faction includes such prominent politicians as Karim Masimov, the current Prime Minister.[28][29]

[edit] Future Aspirations

Thanks to his business and political backing, as well as key connections in the oil sector, Kulibayev has a large political influence. This had led many to speculate that Kulibayev is a contender to be President Nazarbayev's successor.

Nazarbayev's family holds immense influence throughout the country. His children, and their spouses, have connections to most of Kazakhstan's major industries.[30] This has led to charges of nepotism, and raises the expectation that the country's next leader will come from within the family.[31] Dariga Nazarbayeva, the president's eldest daughter, was long considered the primary choice to follow Nazarbayev, however recently her power has been reduced.[29] She lost control of her Khabar television station in 2006. In 2007 she divorced her husband, Rakhat Aliev, after an arrest warrant was issued for him by the Kazakh authorities. He is currently in exile in Austria.[32] This sudden reduction of power in the Dariga Nazarbayeva/Rakhat Aliev faction further raises the possibility that Kulibayev is in a strong position to become Kazakhstan's next leader.

[edit] References

  1. ^ The Kazakhs Want Control The Oil and the Glory
  2. ^ A Window Into a First Family's Oil Holdings The Oil and the Glory
  3. ^ The World's Billionaires - Timur Kulibaev Forbes.com
  4. ^ Why is President Nazarbayev going after “Samruk”? The Roberts Report
  5. ^ a b Kazakhstan: Timur Kulibayev steps onto the stage East Week, Issue 47 - Center for Eastern Studies (PDF)
  6. ^ Smith, Shane A. (September 2007). "Leadership Transition in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan" (PDF).
  7. ^ Nazarbayev dismisses son-in-law Kulibaev from Samruk post Renaissance Capital
  8. ^ (Russian) Подробно о кланах… Russians.kz
  9. ^ "Islamic extremism": myths and reality International Eurasian Institute for Economic and Political Research
  10. ^ (Russian) Хозяин казахстанской нефти Arba.ru
  11. ^ The new dynasties: Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan AsiaNews.it
  12. ^ The World's Billionaires - Dinara Kulibaeva Forbes.com
  13. ^ (Russian) Тимур Кулибаев: Гольф - идеальная игра! Golf.kz
  14. ^ a b Kazakhstan - Timur Kulibayev APS Review Downstream Trends
  15. ^ (Russian) Тимур Кулибаев (средний зять) возглавил ассоциацию KazЕnergy CentrAsia
  16. ^ Kazakhstan: Nazarbaev’s 91% vote fails to convince international observers Menas CaspianFocus
  17. ^ a b Kazakhstan: President Nazarbaev Dismisses Another Son-In-Law Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
  18. ^ Kazakhstan: President Argues That One-Party Parliament Can Be Engine of Modernization Eurasianet
  19. ^ (Russian) Почему Тимур Кулибаев ушел из "Самрука" Nomad
  20. ^ Joint Stock Company Holding Group Almex: Consolidated Financial Statements KASE
  21. ^ Kazakh leader's daughter owns big banking stake Turkish Daily News
  22. ^ Who is Who? — Sauat Mynbayev - Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Silk Road Intelligencer
  23. ^ LeVine, Steve (2007). The Oil and the Glory. New York: Random House, 385. ISBN 978-0-375-50614-7. 
  24. ^ A Window Into a First Family's Oil Holdings The Oil and the Glory
  25. ^ Kazakhstan – Challenges to the Booming Petro-Economy Swiss Peace
  26. ^ Kazakhstan's Powerful President The Economist
  27. ^ Kazakhstan: The Domestic Implications of Rakhat Aliyev's Precipitous Fall Eurasianet
  28. ^ A Political Shake-up in Kazakhstan Strengthens Presidential Authority Eurasianet
  29. ^ a b Kazakhstan: Apparent Rift Opens Within Nazarbaev Family Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
  30. ^ Kazakh leader's family widens oil clout International Herald Tribune
  31. ^ Amid Growing Wealth, Nepotism and Nationalism in Kazakhstan New York Times
  32. ^ Kazakh Oil Gem Is Ripe for Takeover Wall Street Journal
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