On approval of the Rules for Maintaining the List of strategic subsurface areas in the field of hydrocarbons
Order of the Acting Minister of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated March 31, 2026 No. 132-n/K. Registered with the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan on April 1, 2026 No. 38273
In accordance with paragraph 2 of Article 43 of the Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On Subsoil and Subsoil Use", I ORDER:
1. To approve the attached Rules for maintaining the list of Strategic subsurface areas in the field of hydrocarbons.
2. The Department of Subsoil Use of the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan, shall ensure:
1) the state registration of this order in the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
2) posting of this order on the Internet resource of the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan after its official publication;
3) within ten working days after the state registration of this order with the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan, submit to the Department of Legal Service of the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan information on the implementation of measures provided for in subparagraphs 1) and 2) of this paragraph.
3. Control over the execution of this order is entrusted to the supervising Vice Minister of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
4. This order shall enter into force upon the expiration of ten calendar days after the date of its first official publication.
Acting Minister of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan
E. Akbarov
"APPROVED" by the Ministry of Industry and Construction of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Appendix to the Order of March 31, 2026 No. 132-n/k
Rules for the establishment of a list of strategic subsurface areas in the field of hydrocarbons
Chapter 1. General provisions
1. These Rules for Maintaining the List of Strategic Subsurface Areas in the field of hydrocarbons (hereinafter referred to as the Rules) have been developed in accordance with paragraph 2 of Article 43 of the Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On Subsurface and Subsoil Use" (hereinafter referred to as the Code) and define the procedure for maintaining the list of strategic subsurface areas in the field of hydrocarbons.
2. The List of Strategic subsurface areas in the field of hydrocarbons (hereinafter referred to as the List) should include subsurface areas that meet one of the following criteria established by paragraph 2 of Article 43 of the Code:
1) containing geological reserves of oil in the amount of more than fifty million tons or natural gas in the amount of more than fifteen billion cubic meters.
The content of geological reserves of oil or natural gas is confirmed by a report on the calculation of geological reserves of hydrocarbons approved by the subsurface user and received a positive conclusion from the state expertise of the subsurface.;
2) located in the Kazakh sector of the Caspian Sea.
A subsurface area is recognized as located in the Kazakh sector of the Caspian Sea if all geographical coordinates of the territory of such a subsurface area are located within the area of the seabed and subsurface, the spatial boundaries of which with the areas of neighboring countries are established by international treaties ratified by the Republic of Kazakhstan, and the spatial boundary with the land runs along the line formed as a result of the maximum surge of water in the Caspian Sea.
Chapter 2. The procedure for maintaining the list of strategic subsurface areas in the field of hydrocarbons
Paragraph 1. Subsurface areas containing geological reserves of more than fifty million tons of oil or more than fifteen billion cubic meters of natural gas
3. The authorized body for the study of subsurface resources notifies the competent authority within 5 (five) working days from the date of the positive state examination of the report on the calculation of geological reserves of hydrocarbons on:
1) the compliance of a hydrocarbon deposit with the criterion specified in subparagraph 1) of paragraph 2 of these Rules for a subsurface area not included in the List;
2) non-compliance of the hydrocarbon deposit with the criterion specified in subparagraph 1) of paragraph 2 of these Rules for the subsurface area included in the List.
A copy of the report on the calculation of geological reserves of hydrocarbons is attached to the notification.
4. Upon receipt of the notification of the authorized body for the study of subsurface resources sent in accordance with paragraph 3 of these Rules, the competent authority shall amend the List within 10 (ten) days and ensure its approval and adoption in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Paragraph 2. Subsurface areas located in the Kazakh sector of the Caspian Sea
5. At the request of the competent authority on the compliance of the boundaries of a subsurface area located in the Kazakh sector of the Caspian Sea with the requirements of subparagraph 2) of paragraph 2 of these Rules, the authorized body for the study of subsurface resources considers the request within 1 (one) month and, based on the results of the review, sends to the competent authority one of the following conclusions:
1) all geographical coordinates of the territory of the subsurface area are located within the area of the bottom and subsurface, the spatial boundaries of which with the areas of neighboring countries are established by international treaties ratified by the Republic of Kazakhstan, and the spatial boundary with the land runs along the line formed as a result of the maximum surge of the Caspian Sea;
2) part of the geographical coordinates of the territory of the subsurface area are located outside the bottom and subsurface area, the spatial boundaries of which with the areas of neighboring countries are established by international treaties ratified by the Republic of Kazakhstan, and the spatial boundary with the land runs along the line formed as a result of the maximum surge of the Caspian Sea.
6. In the event of a change in the boundaries of a seabed and subsurface area, the spatial boundaries of which with areas of neighboring countries are established by international treaties ratified by the Republic of Kazakhstan, or a change in the spatial boundary with the land running along the line formed as a result of the maximum surge of water in the Caspian Sea, the competent authority shall send a request to the authorized body for the study of subsurface resources on the compliance of the boundaries of subsurface areas located in the Kazakh sector of the Caspian Sea and included in the List, requirements of subparagraph 2) of paragraph 2 of these Rules.
7. The authorized body for the study of subsurface resources shall consider the request sent in accordance with paragraph 6 of these Rules within 1 (one) month and, based on the results of the review, send its conclusion to the competent authority.:
1) on the availability of subsurface areas located in the Kazakh sector of the Caspian Sea and included in the List, the boundaries of which have ceased to comply with the requirements of subparagraph 2) paragraph 2 of these Rules. A list of relevant sites is attached to this conclusion.;
2) the absence of subsurface areas located in the Kazakh sector of the Caspian Sea and included in the List, the boundaries of which no longer comply with the requirements of subparagraph 2) paragraph 2 of these Rules.
8. Upon receipt of the notification of the authorized body for the study of subsurface resources provided for in subparagraph 1) paragraph 5 or subparagraph 1) According to paragraph 7 of these Rules, the competent authority shall amend the List within 10 (ten) business days and ensure its approval and adoption in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
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