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Kashagan, Kazakhstan’s largest oil and gas field on the Caspian shelf, is scheduled for an equipment upgrade in 2026, according to the North Caspian Operating Company N.V. (NCOC), the field’s operator.

Holding production steady

The planned upgrade will enable additional lines to be connected to the existing process pipeline system at the Integrated Oil and Gas Treatment Plant (IOGTP), also known as the Bolashak onshore processing facility, without interrupting production.

A memo from NCOC, reviewed by Kursiv.media, states that the primary goal of the project is to eliminate bottlenecks at the IOGTP. The upgrade will include minor modernization of the...

Tucked between Europe and the Far East, Central Asia remains one of the world’s least understood regions, not because it lacks stories, but because it rarely demands to be heard. Spread across the vast territories of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, this part of the world offers a rare blend of natural beauty, deep-rooted tradition, and sincere human connection. It’s a place that doesn’t market itself loudly — it simply invites those willing to listen.

Here’s what makes Central Asia uniquely compelling:

Nature: Where mountains meet the steppe

Central Asia is a landscape of...

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has dismissed Defense Minister Ruslan Zhaksylykov and Minister of Transport Marat Karabayev, according to a statement from Akorda, the president’s official residence and workplace.

Although transportation plays a crucial role in the vast Central Asian republic, no replacement has yet been named for Karabayev. In contrast, Tokayev appointed Lt. Gen. of Aviation Dauren Kossanov, who previously served as vice minister of defense, as the new defense minister.

In a separate move, Tokayev named Assel Zhanasova, former CEO of KazPost, as an adviser to the president. Before taking the helm at the national postal service in the fall...

Several governments and central banks worldwide have recently voiced alarm regarding the risks of buying or investing in cryptocurrencies. Fabio Panetta, a policymaker at the European Central Bank and governor of the Bank of Italy, expressed concern about the reputational risks banks could face by offering services related to crypto-assets, according to Investing.com. Meanwhile, the Central Bank of Jordan has explicitly prohibited financial institutions from facilitating cryptocurrency transactions, citing high volatility and fraud risks.

Kazakhstan has followed suit. During a June 5 briefing on the base rate decision, National Bank Chairman Timur Suleimenov warned citizens against buying cryptocurrencies...

The global energy transition is rapidly accelerating demand for critical minerals, and copper is taking center stage as a cornerstone of the low-carbon economy. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), copper demand is expected to outstrip supply by 30% by 2035 unless urgent action is taken. This shortfall threatens to become a major bottleneck for the development of clean energy infrastructure, such as electric vehicles, renewable power systems and electricity grids, as reported by The Guardian.

Copper: The backbone of the energy transition

IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol recently issued a stark warning: «It’s time to sound the...

Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) has signed an agreement with Elektrarna Dukovany II (EDU II), a company controlled by the government of the Czech Republic, to construct two new nuclear power units at the Dukovany nuclear power plant (NPP). This happened after a local court lifted an injunction that had blocked the deal, The Korea Times reported, citing Reuters.

KHNP is the operator of nuclear and hydroelectric plants in South Korea and a subsidiary of the Korea Electric Power Corporation, the largest electric utility in the country.

On June 4, the Czech Supreme Administrative Court lifted the injunction...

Birdwatchers around the world have a rare opportunity to observe the sociable lapwing (Vanellus gregarius), a species slightly larger than a pigeon that nests exclusively in Kazakhstan and parts of southern Russia.

The bird has a light gray-brown plumage, with a distinctive black stripe along the top of its head and prominent white «eyebrows.» Males are marked by a striking black cap, as well as black coloring on the chest and abdomen. The species overwinters in northeastern Africa and southwestern Asia.

A 2022 study by the Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan (ACBK) documented a...

President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed a proclamation banning travel to the United States from 12 countries, citing national security concerns. The list includes Afghanistan and Turkmenistan — two nations with growing ties to Central Asia and, notably, to Kazakhstan.

The travel ban, announced in the wake of a deadly antisemitic attack in Boulder, Colorado, will fully block entry for nationals from countries identified as lacking sufficient security cooperation with the US. Seven additional countries, including Turkmenistan and Venezuela, face partial restrictions.

«These commonsense restrictions are country-specific,» said White House deputy press secretary Abigail Jackson...

Russia has been developing a new space station called the Russian Orbital Service Station, which is set to replace the International Space Station (ISS). The new orbital station will consist of several modules. The first is scheduled for launch in December 2027 from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia’s Far East, using the Angara-A5M heavy-lift rocket.

Furthermore, the station is also anticipated to host space tourists, according to Dmitry Bakanov, head of Roscosmos, the Russian space agency.

Vostochny is Russia’s first civilian spaceport, built in 2016 to reduce dependence on the Baikonur Cosmodrome — a launch complex in Kazakhstan operated...

On Tuesday, June 3, Mongolian Prime Minister Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene resigned after losing a vote of confidence amid weeks of anti-corruption protests. Public outrage had intensified over the perceived lavish lifestyle of the prime minister’s family, fueling persistent demonstrations in the capital, Ulaanbaatar, according to Al Jazeera.

As reported by The Diplomat, Mongolian youth have staged protests for three consecutive weeks. While demonstrators called for transparency and accountability, political elites appeared out of touch with the everyday concerns of citizens. The uproar was initially sparked by a social media post highlighting the extravagant lifestyle of Oyun-Erdene’s son. In response...

Once on the brink of extinction, the saiga antelope has made an extraordinary recovery thanks to conservation efforts in Kazakhstan.

However, that success is now creating problems — not just for Kazakh farmers, but also for their Russian neighbors.

Russian grain fields under threat

Farmers in Russia’s Saratov region, one of the country’s top grain hubs, report that massive herds of migrating saigas are devastating their fields. The animals are crossing the border from Kazakhstan and causing widespread damage.

«They enter a field in herds of 14,000 and eat everything,» said Pavel Chikankov, a farmer in...

Kazakh singer Dimash Qudaibergen made a special guest appearance at French music legend Lara Fabian’s solo concert at London’s OVO Arena Wembley. A video of the two stars performing the iconic song «Adagio» on stage has since surfaced online.

Fabian’s concert was part of her Voices world tour. In addition to new material, she invited Dimash to join her for a duet of «Adagio,» one of her most celebrated works.

Before the performance, Fabian introduced the Kazakh vocalist to the audience, describing his voice as one of the most powerful and extraterrestrial she has ever heard.

Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil producer and an OPEC member, has conveyed enthusiasm for obtaining expertise, know-how and engineering services in oil and gas from Kazakhstan, Central Asia’s top oil producer. The announcement came during a meeting between Kazakhstan’s Minister of Energy Yerlan Akkenzhenov and the Ooni of Ife (traditional ruler in Nigeria) Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, as reported by Gov.kz.

The Nigerian side specifically emphasized its need for Kazakhstan’s state-of-the-art methods for oil and gas transportation — both by land and by sea. Potential partners also voiced their willingness to organize Kazakhstan-led training for the country’s specialists.

Akkenzhenov responded...

Kazakhstan’s services activity rose markedly in May and at one of the strongest rates in the series history which stretches back to March 2019. The Freedom Holding Corp. PMI® signaled a fifth successive monthly rise in business activity.

The uptick was underscored by a sharper rate of expansion in new business. However, service

providers remained reluctant to renew their hiring activity, with job shedding recorded for a third straight month. This reluctance could in part be explained by a more cautious outlook for activity in May. The level of optimism weakened notably from April.

The headline figure is the Business...

One in every three new nuclear reactors worldwide is currently being built or designed by Rosatom, Russia’s national nuclear corporation. As the undisputed leader in global nuclear power plant (NPP) construction, Rosatom plays a key role in Moscow’s broader geopolitical strategy. Where Russia once sought to entangle its neighbors with gas pipelines, the Kremlin is now using Rosatom to extend similar influence, according to independent energy analyst Yana Fortuna in a recent article for Novaya Gazeta Europe.

Kremlin’s soft power

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Rosatom expanded its international footprint, particularly in Africa, South America and...

Bayan Alaguzova, a well-known Kazakhstani movie producer, has announced plans to make the final movie in her trilogy — following the acclaimed “Baqyt” (Happiness) and “Zhauap Ber” (Give an Answer) — about strong women fighting male-driven injustice. She offered a sneak peek at her plans via Instagram Stories.

Even though Alaguzova refused to dive deep into details, she revealed that the plot is based on real events, with production already underway.

The producer also mentioned two new projects she is working on. The first is a new musical group she is producing with plans already set for their debut music...

The Almaty Zoo recently shared the inspiring story of Diana, a jaguar who overcame life-threatening injuries and has been living at the zoo for 18 years.

As a cub, Diana was seriously injured in an attack by an adult jaguar — her own father. The incident, which occurred in 2007, left her with severe wounds, resulting in the loss of one of her front paws and part of her tail. In most zoos, such trauma would lead to euthanasia, a common practice for animals with such extensive injuries. However, in Diana’s case, the veterinary team chose a different path.

Till Lindemann — German musician, poet and actor, best known as the frontman of Rammstein, Lindemann and Na Chui — is set to perform in Almaty on Jan. 7, 2026, as part of his solo tour Meine Welt across Central Asia.

Lindemann is also recognized for his collaborations with a variety of artists and bands, including Apocalyptica, Phantom Vision, Puhdys, Knorkator and Emigrate, as well as individual artists such as Kovacs and Zaz.

Fans can purchase tickets through Ticketon.kz, a leading online platform for movie and event tickets in Kazakhstan. According to the service, the upcoming concert promises to be...

A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck near the coastal town of Marmaris early Tuesday, shaking parts of southwestern Turkey and prompting concern as far away as Kazakhstan.

According to ABC News, citing the Associated Press, the quake occurred at 2:17 a.m. local time and was centered in the Mediterranean Sea, just off the resort town’s coast. Though no structural collapses were reported, a teenage girl died after suffering a panic attack during the tremor.

Authorities said around 70 people sustained minor injuries, many of them after leaping from balconies and windows in panic. The shaking was felt in neighboring regions...

KamaTyresKz — a joint venture between Kazakhstan’s Allur and Russia’s Tatneft — has produced more than 300,000 passenger car tires since its launch in July 2024, according to Olzhas Saparbekov, Kazakhstan’s vice minister of industry and construction. He noted that the factory plans to expand its product range from the current 37 sizes for passenger car tires to over 100 various types, explore other segments and types and begin exporting Kazakhstan-made tires.

However, Saparbekov admitted that the producer still heavily relies on several types of imported raw materials.

Previously, the ministry reported that 30,000 Kazakh-made tires were produced in the...

Birdwatchers from Europe, the U.S. and Russia are increasingly flocking to Kazakhstan to observe its diverse avian species. While birdwatching or avitourism is a popular form of ecotourism in Europe and North America, it remains relatively unknown among most Kazakhstanis.

Both local and Russian ornithologists organize expeditions and photo tours across Kazakhstan.

Kursiv.media takes a closer look at the species that attract foreign birdwatchers and how enthusiasts can join a birdwatching tour in Kazakhstan.

When to watch birds

International visitors prefer to come during the «golden hour» of birdwatching season, i.e. late spring to early summer. This is when birds...

Chevron, Eni, Shell and other global oil majors are being pushed to increase their reliance on local suppliers as Kazakhstan moves to strengthen domestic economic participation in its multibillion-dollar energy projects.

Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov has called on operators of the country’s three largest oil and gas fields — Tengiz, Kashagan and Karachaganak — to raise the share of goods, services and labor sourced from Kazakh companies. Currently, only 23% of their procurement comes from local suppliers, leaving the majority dependent on imports.

«This sector still holds enormous potential,» Bektenov emphasized at a recent government...

Vietnamese Sovico Group, which recently acquired a 51% stake in QazaqAir, has delayed its plans to assume management of an airport in Kazakhstan, as reported by Informburo.kz, citing Kazakhstan’s Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin.    

This isn’t about acquiring the airport. The investor’s intent was to take over management in order to establish a base airport, but they’ve put that on hold for now, as significant capital is currently being allocated to airline development. In the next stage, the company will consider purchasing or managing the airport. But overall, if you have an airline, you...

Construction has officially begun on a new electronic device manufacturing plant in Semey, eastern Kazakhstan, according to the akimat (local administration) of the Abay region.

The $50 million project, led by the Kazakh-Chinese joint venture Suto Kazakhstan, will be carried out in three phases from 2025 to 2028. Products from the facility will be sold domestically and exported across the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Europe.

The plant will manufacture a wide range of electronic components, including microchips, optoelectronic modules, smart host controllers, power supply units, energy-efficient lamps and digital displays.

«This marks the first...