Companies working on complex projects in Kazakhstan will be required to gradually replace foreign specialists with Kazakhstani personnel under the Improved Model Contract (IMC).
Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov announced the requirement at a recent cabinet meeting. However, his report did not clarify whether the changes cover Kazakhstan’s three largest oil and gas projects: Tengiz, Kashagan and Karachaganak.
The program calls for companies to establish a talent pool, train and educate local specialists, and give priority to Kazakh citizens when filling positions.
«For complex projects, there is an obligation to develop and coordinate with the Ministry of Energy a program for replacing foreign specialists with Kazakh specialists,» Akkenzhenov said.
Companies to fund workforce training
Production companies will also be required to allocate 1% of their production toward training Kazakhstani personnel. About 62.7 billion tenge was allocated for these purposes in 2023-2025.
However, Kazakhstan’s three largest oil and gas projects — Tengiz, operated by Tengizchevroil; Kashagan, operated by NCOC; and Karachaganak, operated by KPO — are not formally operating under the IMC. They continue to operate under legacy agreements, despite meeting the criteria for classification as complex projects.
The Ministry of Energy’s press service said the program for replacing foreign personnel with Kazakhstani specialists does not apply to the three projects.
Labor shortages remain
The government’s push to develop local talent comes as Kazakhstan continues to face shortages of skilled workers.
Labor Minister Askarbek Yertayev previously said 30% to 40% of technical positions in Kazakhstan remain vacant, forcing companies to hire foreign workers.
About 300,000 foreign nationals enter Kazakhstan each year, according to the minister.
