He was born on November 20, 1947 in Atyrau. He is a mining engineer. In 1973 he graduated from the Kazakh Polytechnic Institute named after V.Y.Lenin. Speaks English.

He began working in 1964 in the Karagin expedition, in the village of Yeraliyevo, Guryev region of the KazSSR.

After graduation of the institute he worked as operator, repairman of the underground oil well, chief of the shift of the central controller's office, senior engineer in the ‘Mangyshlakneft' in the village of Zhetybai of the Mangyshlak region.

From 1977 to 1979, he worked as deputy chief of the productive servicing base in the village of Akkistau of the Guryev region.

From 1979 to 1986, he worked as the chief engineer of ‘Embaneft' and ‘Aktyubinskneft'.

From 1986 to 1992, he served as Deputy Head of the Main Directorate on Oil Production of the Ministry of Oil and Gas Industry of the USSR.

In 1993 after graduation from the Massachusetts University in Boston, he worked in ‘Chevron' company in San-Raton (USA).

From 1994 to 1997, he served as the Minister of Oil and Gas Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

From March to October 1997, he served as the President of ‘Kazakhoil' National Oil and Gas Company.

From 1997 to 1999, he served as the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

From 1999 to 2002, he served as the President of CJSC ‘Kazakhoil' National Oil and Gas Company.

From February 2002 to December 2007, he served as the President of OJSC ‘Kazakh Oil and Investment Company'.

In December 2007 by the order of the President he has been appointed to the post of Adviser to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Since February 2008 he is an Adviser to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Special Representative of the Republic of Kazakhstan for the Issues of Exploiting the Caspian Sea Resources.

He has been awarded the II degree Order of Barys, and has 2 medals.