Kazakhstan's Ministry of Energy has announced a large-scale program to replenish the country's resource base. To find new hydrocarbon deposits, the ministry intends to ensure the drilling of about 200 exploration and appraisal wells, reports infohub.kz.
Details of the new strategy were presented in Atyrau during the KAZDRILLING industry conference. Vice Minister of Energy Erlan Akbarov stated that increasing the volume of geological exploration is a critical condition for the stable development of the industry. According to the ministry's forecasts, in 2026 the volume of exploration and appraisal drilling will amount to about 80 wells, and in 2027-2028 this figure will be increased to 120 wells annually.
The state is focusing on poorly studied sedimentary basins that have significant oil and gas potential. To stimulate investment in exploration, the ministry has simplified the procedure for granting such subsoil plots to subsoil users. Now, a specialized auction is held within ten working days after the application is received. The mandatory work program requires the investor to conduct seismic surveys on at least 30% of the area in the first three years, followed by mandatory drilling.
When implementing the program, the ministry requires respect for the interests of local manufacturers of oilfield services equipment. According to the ministry, the necessary competencies have already been formed in the country. As an example, the Atyrau plant "Zhigermunaiservice" is cited, which has established the production of drill bits and calibrators.
It is expected that the expansion of geological exploration will not only ensure an inflow of taxes but also form a sustainable domestic market for drilling services with the creation of new highly qualified jobs.
In March 2026, it became known that Kazakhstan's proven recoverable oil reserves stably exceed four billion tons. The list of largest assets traditionally includes 20 key fields.
In addition to hydrocarbons, geological exploration is also showing results in the solid minerals sector. In early September 2026, geologists found more than 150 tons of gold and about nine thousand tons of silver.