Kazakhstan Boosts Geological Exploration with New Infrastructure and Investment

Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov addressed the International Geoscience & Exploration of Central Asia (GECA 2026) forum, outlining Kazakhstan's strategic reforms in the geological sector. He emphasized that geological exploration serves as a foundational pillar for the nation's industrial and economic development.

Bektenov highlighted that systemic reforms in geology and subsoil use are being implemented under President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's directives. These reforms aim to modernize infrastructure, enhance investment appeal, and integrate advanced technologies into the industry.

A key achievement has been the launch of the Unified Subsoil Use Portal, which provides transparent access to services. The adoption of a "first come, first served" principle has significantly streamlined licensing procedures. This policy shift has attracted approximately 280 billion tenge in private investment for geological exploration over the past three years.

The government is also transitioning to creating large-scale geophysical maps (1:50,000) and implementing international standards for resource reporting. A major long-term project is the establishment of a geological cluster in Astana. This center will house an analytical laboratory, a core storage facility, and a geological data repository, consolidating technical and human resources to accelerate research.

Kazakhstan possesses substantial mineral resources, with an estimated 10,000 deposits nationwide. Key reserves include over 2.3 thousand tons of gold, 4.3 billion tons of oil, 3.8 trillion cubic meters of gas, 33.5 billion tons of coal, and 26.7 billion tons of iron. The resource base was recently expanded with the discovery of the "Kuyryktykol" rare earth metals deposit in 2025, containing around 800 thousand tons of cerium, neodymium, yttrium, and other elements.

Funding for geological studies has been increased tenfold. Over the next three years, nearly $500 million will be allocated to advance these efforts. The goal is to increase the geologically explored area of the country to 2.2 million square kilometers; it currently stands at nearly 2.04 million square kilometers.

The forum also served as a platform for international cooperation. Participants included Kazakhstan's Minister of Industry and Construction Yersaiyn Nagaspayev, Uzbekistan's Deputy Minister of Mining Industry and Geology Rustam Yusupov, and Tajikistan's Head of the Main Geology Department Ilhomjon Oymuhammadzoda.