With the fall of the Russian block in 1991, Balgimbayev left for the US and studied one year at the University of Massachusetts and made a one-year internship at Chevron (1993-1994).

Lyazzat Kiyinov replaced him after the merger between KazakhOil and Transport Nefti i Gaza companies into the new KazMunayGas.

[1] In 2003, the US justice linked Nurlan Balgimbayev to a $78 million bribe from US oil consultant James Giffen.

[8][9][10] Nurlan Balgimbayev was also involved in a bribery case led by oil-industry fixer Friedhelm Eronat.

[11] Coined as the Kazakhgate, the case implied the use of bribe money for luxury items and premium education fees in Switzerland.