LONDON. June 24. KAZINFORM KazMunaiGas Exploration Production (RDGZ), the London-listed unit of Kazakhstan's state energy company, appointed Abzal Mendibayev as chief executive officer of its Uzenmunaigas division.

Uzenmunaigas, which pumps oil in western Kazakhstan, also named Abat Nurseitov as chairman at its first board meeting in Zhanaozen today, KazMunaiGas EP said in an e-mailed statement.

Uzenmunaigas suffered labor strikes and violent protests in 2011 as workers demanded higher pay. The disruption underpinned a 7 percent drop in oil output at KazMunaiGas EP over the year.

KazMunaiGas EP made Uzenmunaigas a joint stock company this year on the instruction of Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Kazinform quotes Bloomberg.