TMK Energy has named Steve Skinner, a US-based petroleum engineer and private equity investor, as chief operating officer to drive the Gurvantes XXXV coal seam gas project in Mongolia from early appraisal toward commercial production. Skinner brings more than 25 years of experience, including work in the San Juan Basin, and his cornerstone investment in March has helped shape TMK’s revised 2026 work program focused on increasing gas production and improving capital efficiency, notably through recompletions across TMK’s seven pilot wells. The project has independently certified contingent gas resources of about 1.2 trillion cubic feet within a 60-square-kilometre area, with a broader prospective resource potentially reaching 5.3 trillion cubic feet across the South Gobi basin near the Chinese border. TMK’s leadership emphasizes Skinner’s role in advancing the transition from early-stage appraisal to full-scale production and commercialisation, aligning management incentives with project success. The company’s strategy hinges on capital efficiency and operational excellence to unlock value from its 100% ownership of the Gurvantes XXXV asset, with positive signals from pilot wells supporting near-term production potential. Skinner’s appointment has been endorsed by TMK’s CEO and board as a pivotal step in driving the project’s development and TMK’s growth trajectory.