Personnel Shuffle in Bashkortostan Fuel Complex
// Key enterprises get closer to Ural Rakhimov
The Oil and Gas Vertical
The boards of directors of five petrochemical and oil refining companies of OOO Bashkirsky Kapital, which is controlled by Ural Rakhimov, son of President of Bashkortostan Murtaza Rakhimov, voted to change general directors. Bashkortostan sources say that the move may be an attempt by Ural Rakhimov to reinforce his control over the enterprises as Bashkirsky Kapital is prepared for restructuring jointly with its other shareholder, AFK Sistema.
According to official information released yesterday, the terms of office were cut short for general directors Vadim Nikolaichuk of Ufa Refinery, Fanil Mazitov of Ufaorgsintez, Rustem Ishalin of Bashkirnefteprodukt, Salavat Vildanov of Novo-Ufimsky Oil Refinery (Novoil) and Anatoly Sukhorukov of Ufaneftekhim. Bashkirsky Kapital declined to make in depth comments on the changes, noting only that “It's not worth looking for particular political subtexts.” “All the changes are of a technical character. It is usual rotation of personnel,” a source there said.
Managers for Bashkirsky Kapital companies have been appointed to replace the dismissed directors. Mazitov was appointed general director of Bashkirnefteprodukt. Vildanov was replaced by Sergey Borisov, formerly general director Ufakhimprom, part of the Bashkirsky Kapital production chain, and appointed general director of Ufaorgsintez. Nikolaichuk was replaced by Sukhorukhov, who was replaced by Viktor Gantsev, executive director of OOO Institute of Regional Economy and Law, which manages Bashkirsky Kapital assets. Gantsev is also considered one of Ural Rakhimov's closest advisors.
The administration of Bashkortostan is not commenting officially on the personnel changes. However, a source in the administration told Kommersant that the changes were dictated by Ural Rakhimov's desire to increase his personal control over the enterprises before the restructuring Bashkirsky Kapital assets with AFK Sistema “to protect himself from possible surprises from AFK.” The source said that the key enterprises will be managed persons more loyal to Ural Rakhimov. He also mentioned the possibility that Ishalin, another figure close to Ural Rakhimov, will be placed in a top post at Bashneft. Sergey Filippov, chairman of AFK Sistema, told Kommersant that the changes were made with his company's agreement. Sistema head Vladimir Evtushenkov stated in October that the company intended to create a vertically integrated company from the Bashkortostan fuel complex. It owns 25 percent of Bashneft, 28.17 percent of Novoil, 25.52 percent the Ufa Oil Refinery, 22.43 percent of Ufaneftekhim, 24.87 percent of Ufaorgsintez and 18.57 percent of Bashkirnefteprodukt.
Ilshat Gainullin, Ufa; Anna Skornyakova
All the Article in Russian as of Dec. 27, 2005
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