ASHKABAD (Turkmenistan), Jan 7: Turkmenistan’s president dismissed the head of the state gas company Turkmengaz in the third such sacking since he took power, state television reported on Saturday.

President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov sacked the gas firm chief at a cabinet meeting, saying that “we need to raise the effectiveness of our work in the most important branch of the Turkmen economy, the oil and gas industry.” The ousted gas chief, Amanaly Khanalyev, had been in the post for one year.

The Neitralny Turkmenistan newspaper reported on Saturday that a state watchdog and the prosecutor-general’s office had carried out checks of the ministries and state institutions and found “serious shortcomings.”

“As a result of this, the Turkmen president dismissed the head of Turkmengaz,” it reported.

Berdymukhamedov had already fired two other heads of Turkmengaz since coming to power in 2007. The official reason given was shortcomings in their work.

Turkmenistan, an energy-rich but isolated ex-Soviet country in Central Asia, is believed to have some of the world’s biggest natural gas reserves and exports supplies to Russia and China.

Berdymukhamedov has pledged to open up his country to greater international cooperation and investment following the death of Saparmurat Niyazov in 2006.—AFP

ASHKABAD (Turkmenistan), Jan 7: Turkmenistan’s president dismissed the head of the state gas company Turkmengaz in the third such sacking since he took power, state television reported on Saturday. President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov sacked the gas firm chief at a cabinet meeting, saying that “we need to raise the effectiveness of our work in the most important branch of the Turkmen economy, the oil and gas industry.” The ousted gas chief, Amanaly Khanalyev, had been in the post for one year. The Neitralny Turkmenistan newspaper reported on Saturday that a state watchdog and the prosecutor-general’s office had carried out checks of the ministries and state institutions and found “serious shortcomings.” “As a result of this, the Turkmen president dismissed the head of Turkmengaz,” it reported. Berdymukhamedov had already fired two other heads of Turkmengaz since coming to power in 2007. The official reason given was shortcomings in their work. Turkmenistan, an energy-rich but isolated ex-Soviet country in Central Asia, is believed to have some of the world’s biggest natural gas reserves and exports supplies to Russia and China. Berdymukhamedov has pledged to open up his country to greater international cooperation and investment following the death of Saparmurat Niyazov in 2006.—AFP