Kazakhstan is set to launch geological exploration in several areas estimated to hold more than 500 billion cubic meters of natural gas, according to Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov.
«Kazakhstan has been actively expanding geological exploration in the gas sector. One of our top priorities is increasing the volume of proven hydrocarbon reserves,» Akkenzhenov said during a recent cabinet meeting. «As part of this effort, the national company QazaqGaz is working across 15 subsoil areas currently included in the state subsoil fund management program. Preliminary estimates indicate that total gas resources in these projects amount to roughly 535.5 billion cubic meters (bcm), with an estimated total investment of 200 billion tenge (approximately $380 million).»
QazaqGaz has signed exploration agreements with several partners: KOR Oil Company on the Akkuduk and Shalkar sites, U.S.-based Chevron on the KT-III site and KazAzot on the Severny-2 site. Negotiations are ongoing with CNPC-AktobeMunaiGas for the Severny-1 site. Additionally, potential investor Gas Solution has expressed interest in the Northern Samtyr and Southern Samtyr fields in the Mangystau region.
Akkenzhenov reported that gas production reached 59 bcm in 2024, with a production target of 62.8 bcm set for 2025. Between January and March, 17.2 bcm were produced.
The boost in production is primarily driven by large fields, including Karachaganak (+0.2 bcm), Tengiz (+2.9 bcm) and Kashagan (+0.8 bcm). Commercial gas production in 2024 totaled 28.7 bcm, with a target of 29.4 bcm for 2025. In the first quarter of 2025, commercial output reached 7.3 bcm. To meet domestic demand, Kazakhstan supplied 21.2 bcm of gas last year. Consumption is projected to rise slightly in 2025 to 21.3 bcm.
