Sergei ShmatkoSergei Ivanovich Shmatko was a Russian businessman and politician specializing in the energy industry.He was Russia's Minister of Energy from May 2008 until May 2012.Early life and educationShmatko was born in Stavropol. He earned degrees from both Urals State University in Yekaterinburg and the University of Marburg in West Germany.Business careerShmatko's business career from 1992 involved stints consulting in Germany and Russia, and working at the All-Russia Bank of Regional Development. He was appointed head of economic strategy at Rosenergoatom in 1997 and in 2005 became president of Russia's nuclear-power export monopoly, Atomstroyexport.Minister of EnergyShmatko was appointed to the newly established position of Minister of Energy in May 2008, during the incoming administration of President Dmitry Medvedev.DeathHe died from COVID-19 on 7 November 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Russia.