Exit stage left for Nazarbayev
Kazakhstan's president departs after decades of tight control. Could it kickstart a privatisation push?
Nursultan Nazarbayev, Kazakhstan's first and only leader since independence, agreed in mid-March to relinquish the presidency after almost 30 years at the helm of Central Asia's largest economy, while retaining a title of "leader of the nation". In a move than surprised regional analysts, the Kazakh strongman resigned saying he wanted to "support the coming to power of a new generation of leaders, who will continue the transformations taking place in the country". The powers that Nazarbayev will retain, however, has led to scepticism he will fully step back from politics. In 2017, he was awarded lifelong chairmanship of the Security Council, which allows him to dismiss government functionari
Also in this section
22 November 2024
The Energy Transition Advancement Index highlights how the Kingdom can ease its oil dependency and catch up with peers Norway and UAE
21 November 2024
E&P company is charting its own course through the transition, with a highly focused natural gas portfolio, early action on its own emissions and the development of a major carbon storage project
21 November 2024
Maintaining a competitive edge means the transformation must maximise oil resources as well as make strategic moves with critical minerals
20 November 2024
The oil behemoth recognises the need to broaden its energy mix to reduce both environmental and economic risks