Kazakhstan’s government will allocate ₸240 billion to geological exploration, but the specific distribution of these funds and the rationale behind the chosen priorities have raised questions among industry experts. In response to an inquiry from inbusiness.kz, the Ministry of Industry and Construction detailed its plans for 2026–2028 via the eOtinish electronic platform.
A central focus of the program will be regional geological mapping at a scale of 1:50,000. Preparatory work began in 2025, with 20 design-and-cost project documents developed, covering a total area of around 100,000 square kilometers. These projects предусматривают comprehensive analysis of Earth remote sensing data, airborne geophysical and geochemical surveys, as well as field geological work. The estimated cost of these 20 projects amounts to ₸110 billion.
Another major spending area is 2D seismic exploration. Six projects are scheduled to begin in 2026 with a combined budget of ₸42.6 billion. The work is aimed at identifying structural traps for hydrocarbons and will cover two blocks in the Shu–Sarysu sedimentary basin and four blocks in the North Turgai basin. In total, 2D seismic surveys will span 25,300 line kilometers, with completion planned by the end of 2028.
According to the ministry, seismic work will begin simultaneously in several regions. The North Turgai basin will be surveyed in Kostanay Region, while the Shu–Sarysu basin will cover parts of Ulytau, Turkestan and Zhambyl regions. Information on forecast resources will become available after completion of the surveys, and the resulting geological reports are expected to be published in open access on the minerals.e-qazyna.kz portal and the website of the Committee of Geology.
The ministry stressed that these regional programs should not interfere with the normal operations of existing subsoil users. On the contrary, officials say the data generated by the state program can be used by private companies when planning and implementing their own exploration activities.
However, industry specialists note that the ministry’s explanation leaves the strategic logic of the program insufficiently articulated. In their view, there is no publicly available document that systematically assesses the prospectivity of different regions and mineral types or sets out a long-term exploration roadmap.
Experts have also questioned the choice of basins selected for state-funded seismic surveys. Both the Shu–Sarysu and North Turgai basins are already seeing strong interest from national and private companies, while other underexplored areas—such as the Irtysh, Balkhash and Teniz basins—remain largely outside the scope of large-scale government programs.
Additional criticism relates to institutional bottlenecks, including lengthy procedures for accessing geological data and a five-year confidentiality period for submitted exploration results. Analysts argue that removing such constraints could deliver faster and more tangible benefits for the sector than large-scale mapping or seismic programs alone.
