Authorities in one of Kazakhstan’s regions have uncovered widespread illegal extraction of mineral resources following satellite monitoring by the national space operator Қазақстан Ғарыш сапары, according to the regional environmental prosecutor’s office.
Remote sensing data identified 53 zones of suspected unauthorized subsoil use. Subsequent inspections confirmed violations, leading to the opening of two criminal cases for illegal mining. Investigations resulted in criminal liability for those responsible. Environmental damage amounting to 51 million tenge has already been recovered, while an additional 136 million tenge remains subject to collection.
The prosecutor’s office noted that under Kazakhstan’s Land Code, the detection and prevention of illegal extraction of minerals falls under the responsibility of city and district authorities. However, checks revealed that in several cases local administrations failed to act. Following a formal submission by prosecutors, regional authorities instructed officials to strengthen oversight of subsoil use, and a number of civil servants were disciplined.
Kazakhstan has used remote monitoring to detect illegal mining since 2021. Data from satellite surveillance is transmitted to the General Prosecutor’s Office. In November 2025, Deputy Minister of Digital Development and Artificial Intelligence Малик Олжабеков said that in 2025 alone, space-based monitoring of 46 major settlements identified 1,845 sites of shadow subsoil use, including 72 newly discovered areas, 109 previously identified sites with changes in size, and 1,664 locations with no change.
