MINEX Forum

Tag: regulation

  • Kazakhstan Proposes Revised Energy Efficiency Targets for Major Energy Consumers

    Kazakhstan Proposes Revised Energy Efficiency Targets for Major Energy Consumers

    Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Industry and Construction has submitted for public discussion a draft order revising energy efficiency targets for the country’s largest energy consumers. The proposed changes apply to enterprises included in the State Energy Register (SER) that consume more than 50,000 tonnes of standard fuel per year.

    According to the ministry, the introduction of energy-saving and energy-efficiency measures should not affect product prices or regulated tariffs. Instead, the measures are aimed at more rational energy use and reducing losses, while investments in energy-efficient technologies are expected to pay for themselves through lower energy consumption.

    The draft order forms part of a broader policy framework to reduce the energy intensity of Kazakhstan’s economy under the Energy Conservation Development Concept for 2023–2029. The previous set of target indicators was approved on 29 November 2022.

    At present, 108 organisations fall within the scope of the proposed regulation. Of these, 51 operate in the energy and water supply sector (47.2%), 29 in manufacturing (26.9%), 22 in mining (20.3%), four in pipeline transportation (3.7%), and two in the transport sector (1.9%). The ministry noted that this list is not final and may change as companies’ energy consumption increases or decreases.

    Energy efficiency targets are set individually for each enterprise, based on consumption trends over recent years and the results of mandatory energy audits. Companies will be required to meet the approved targets starting from the first year of implementation.

    The indicators include fuel and energy consumption for electricity and heat generation, specific electricity use per unit of output, energy costs for extraction, processing and transportation, as well as permissible loss levels in electricity and heat transmission.

    Oversight of data accuracy will be carried out by the National Institute for Energy Conservation and Energy Efficiency Development. Failure to comply with annual energy reduction requirements or to submit data to the State Energy Register will result in administrative liability.

  • Kazakhstan Changes R&D Funding Mechanism for Subsoil Users

    Kazakhstan Changes R&D Funding Mechanism for Subsoil Users

    Kazakhstan has revised the procedure for financing research and development (R&D) by subsoil users operating in the hydrocarbons and uranium sectors, the Ministry of Energy has reported.

    Under a joint order signed on 17 December 2025 by the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, amendments were introduced to the rules governing the funding of scientific research, scientific and technical work, and experimental development (R&D) during the production phase.

    The key change concerns the mechanism for transferring funds. In line with the President’s instructions to centralise mandatory contributions and to align procedures with the Budget Code of Kazakhstan (Article 9, Paragraph 2), subsoil users extracting hydrocarbons and uranium will now be required to transfer R&D contributions directly to the republican budget.

    To implement this change, a dedicated budget classification code has been approved:
    KBC 401103 — “Contributions by subsoil users for scientific research, scientific and technical, and (or) experimental development works on the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan.”

    Previously, the mandatory 1% R&D contribution paid by producing companies was administered and allocated by the Ministry of Energy.

    The amendments were officially published in the Reference Control Bank of Regulatory Legal Acts of Kazakhstan on 20 November 2025 and will enter into force after a 60-calendar-day transition period, on 19 January 2026.

  • EU Reaches Provisional Deal to Strengthen Foreign Investment Screening Rules

    EU Reaches Provisional Deal to Strengthen Foreign Investment Screening Rules

    The Council of the European Union and representatives of the European Parliament have reached a provisional political agreement to revise the EU’s foreign direct investment (FDI) screening regulation, reinforcing the bloc’s ability to identify and mitigate security and public-order risks linked to foreign investments.

    The updated framework builds on the existing FDI screening system introduced in 2020 and responds to growing geopolitical, technological and supply-chain vulnerabilities. Under the agreement, all EU member states will be required to operate national screening mechanisms with a common minimum scope, ensuring that sensitive investments are assessed consistently across the bloc. Foreign investments made through EU-based subsidiaries will also fall within scope.

    The revised rules target a clearly defined set of sensitive sectors, including dual-use and military items, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, semiconductors, critical raw materials, energy, transport and digital infrastructure, as well as key elements of electoral and financial market infrastructure. The aim is to harmonise approaches, reduce fragmentation between national regimes and lower administrative burdens for investors, while safeguarding cross-border security interests.

    While cooperation between member states and the European Commission will be strengthened, final decisions on whether to approve, condition or block an investment will remain the exclusive responsibility of the host member state. Where comments or opinions are issued by other member states or the Commission, the host country will be required to explain how these were taken into account.

    Operational improvements include plans for a shared EU database to prevent circumvention of screening rules, an optional single electronic filing portal for investors if requested by at least nine member states, and clearer risk assessment criteria.

    Denmark’s Minister for Industry, Business and Financial Affairs Morten Bødskov said the agreement strikes a balance between security and openness, focusing on the most sensitive technologies and infrastructure while keeping Europe attractive to global investors.

    The provisional deal now requires formal endorsement by both the Council and the European Parliament. Once adopted, the revised regulation will apply 18 months after its entry into force.

  • North Macedonia Revokes 45 Mining Concessions Over Legal and Environmental Breaches

    North Macedonia Revokes 45 Mining Concessions Over Legal and Environmental Breaches

    The government of North Macedonia has terminated 45 mining concessions due to violations of legal and environmental regulations, as well as unpaid fees and unauthorized transfers, Deutsche Welle’s local branch reported.

    According to the report, 34 contracts were unilaterally terminated, while 11 expired and were not renewed. The Ministry of Economy said the decision followed findings of non-compliance, including unpaid concession fees, unauthorized transfers of rights, and extraction beyond permitted zones.

    Between January and October 1, authorities conducted 170 extraordinary inspections and 78 regular checks, resulting in the enforcement measures.

    The move comes amid tightened government oversight of North Macedonia’s natural resource sector, part of a broader effort to improve transparency, environmental compliance, and responsible resource management in the country’s mining industry.