Kazakh PM to appoint new energy minister -sources

ASTANA, Aug 27 (Reuters) Kazakh Prime Minister Karim Masimov will appoint a new energy minister later in the day to replace Baktykozha Izmukhambetov, government sources told Reuters today.

''Today the prime minister will introduce a new energy minister,'' one source said. It was unclear why Izmukhambetov had been replaced and who would be his successor.

The reshuffle took place as the Kazakh government announced it was halting work at the Kashagan oilfield, developed by an Eni-led consortium of Western firms. The matter is directly overseen by the energy ministry.

REUTERS RAR VC1640