Numerous shortcomings were reported in the oil and gas sector of Turkmenistan, Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said at an expanded government meeting on 15 January.

"We heavily invest in training of specialists but we still don't see the desired effects. The pace of implementation of development programmes is unjustifiably slow. There were discovered a lot of irregularities in the operation of expensive technical equipment," the president said. According to Berdimuhamedov, investigations conducted by the Supreme Control Chamber and the Prosecutor General's Office revealed violations of financial discipline in the fuel and energy sector.

In this connection, the head of state fired chairman of the Turkmenneft state concern Garyagdy Tashliyev and head of the Turkmengeologiya state corporation Sapargeldy Jumayev.

The head of state severely reprimanded deputy prime minister Tachberdi Tagiyev for weak control over the sector under his supervision. "If you fail to correct the situation in the sector, we will meet again," G.Berdimuhamedov said.

Orazdurdy Hojamuradov, who worked as director of the Scientific Research Institute for oil and gas projects, has been appointed new head of the Turkmenneft state concern. Tore Yagshymuradov, who worked as head of the Mary Oil and Gas Prospecting Department, has been appointed head of the Turkmengeologiya state corporation.