Baltabek Kuandykov is the president of Meridian Petroleum, a privately held Kazakh oil & gas company. He was president of Nelson Resources, the oil development and production company operating in Kazakhstan which was listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange until its acquisition by Lukoil in 2005. Mr Kuandykov has considerable experience in the oil and gas industry in the region, having served as president of Kazakhoil (predecessor of the Kazakh State oil company KazMunaiGas) and is a well respected consultant to Chevron Overseas Petroleum on CIS projects. He also worked in a senior capacity for Kazneftegazrazvedka and was president of Kazakhstancaspishelf. Mr Kuandykov has extensive government experience in Kazakhstan, having served as Deputy Minister of Geology, Head of the Oil and Gas Directorate at the Ministry of Geology, and was Deputy Minister of Energy and Fuel Resources.
