Egypt’s Oil Minister Tarek El Molla this week appointed Muhammad al-Masri as his replacement as Chairman of state oil firm EGPC. Mr Molla replaced current Prime Minister Sharif Isma’il as Oil Minister in a cabinet reshuffle last month (MEES, 25 September).

Mr Masri was appointed as vice chairman of state gas firm EGAS in February having previously headed Rashpetco, EGPC’s joint venture with UK firm BG (MEES, 27 February). EGPC’s new chairman has 30-plus years of experience in the industry, having begun his career as a production engineer at Geisum Oil Company, which is now PetroGulf Misr, a joint venture between the EGPC, Egyptian independent Pico and Kuwait’s Kufpec. Mr Molla has also promoted Muhammad Tahir to First Undersecretary for Oil Affairs at the petroleum ministry. He was previously executive VP (planning and projects) at EGPC. (CONTINUED - 139 WORDS)