Kazakh Energy Minister denies reports that son sold Orsk refinery
ASTANA. Jan 26 (Interfax) - Kazakh Energy Minister Vladimir Shkolnik has denied recent media reports that his son sold Orsknefteorgsintez (Orsk refinery).
"My son is not selling or buying anything. It was reported by some media that he had sold and bought something. As far as I know, for the past three years, he has neither sold, nor bought anything," Shkolnik told reporters after the government hour on Monday in Astana.
"Ask those who wrote it, not me. I honestly don't know, but I know that he didn't buy or sell anything," Vladimir Shkolnik said.
It was previously reported that a company controlled by the founder and president of Russneft , Mikhail Gutseriyev, gained control over Orsk Oil Refinery, which was previously controlled by the son of Vladimir Shkolnik, Igor Shkolnik.
According to a statement from the Orsk Refinery, CJSC ForteInvest increased its voting shares in Orsk Oil Refinery from 8.07% to 85.26% on December 29, 2014. Earlier 71.94% of the plant belonged to Sermules Enterprises Ltd, the only owner of which is the Virgin Islands' Cipation Holdings Ltd., which belongs to Kazakh citizen Igor Shkolnik, the son of Kazatomprom CEO Vladimir Shkolnik.