On 13 February 2026, acting Chairman of the Committee of Geology Kanat Yerubayev presented progress on Kazakhstan’s state geological exploration program at a scale of 1:50,000, marking a strategic shift toward more precise subsurface mapping.
According to Yerubayev, geology has become a key instrument for economic development amid growing global demand for copper, gold, rare earth elements and other critical minerals. Kazakhstan is moving from a 1:200,000 mapping scale to a more detailed 1:50,000 standard aligned with international practices to enhance data accuracy and attract investors.
In 2025, detailed survey projects were prepared covering 100 thousand square kilometers. As a result, 29 prospective areas containing gold, copper, lead, zinc and other minerals were identified.
Hydrocarbon basin exploration is also ongoing. In the Aral region, more than 20 promising blocks have been discovered and are expected to be offered at auction.
Digital transformation remains a central component of the strategy. Through the Unified Subsoil Use Platform, 22 public services are now provided, and access has been granted to 66 thousand geological reports. Some 97.5% of primary geological data has already been digitized, with full completion expected in 2026.
Over the next three years, approximately 240 billion tenge will be allocated to state geological exploration. The first newly identified promising sites are planned to be auctioned as early as 2027.
“We are transitioning from the stage of data accumulation to deep analytics and investment implementation,” Yerubayev emphasized.
