A new energy minister has been appointed in Kazakhstan after the government resigned on the back of last week's violent unrest.

Bolat Akchulakov replaces Magzum Mirzagaliyev, who has only been in the post since September last year. Akchulakov has worked as the managing director of the Samruk-Kazyna National Welfare Fund since April 2021. The fund controls some of the country's key state-owned companies including oil and gas firm Kazmunaigaz, gas pipeline operator Kaztransgaz and Kazakh Railways.

Before that, Akchulakov had two spells as the head of the Kazenergy industry association, from February 2016 to November 2016 and then from April 2019 to April 2021. And in 2006-2014 he held various energy sector positions including deputy minister of energy and mineral resources, managing director of Samruk-Kazyna, managing director of Kazmunaigaz and general director of the body that represents the interests of the Kazakh government in production-sharing agreements with foreign investors on projects such as the Tengiz, Kashagan and Karachaganak oil fields.