Kazakhstan: 4,3 billion tons of oil and 2.300 billion tons of gold, exploration investments doubled in six years

Thu Apr 02 2026

Kazakhstan has estimated reserves of 4,3 billion tons of oil, 3,8 billion cubic meters of gas, 2.300 tons of gold, 33,5 billion tons of coal, and 26,7 billion tons of iron ore. This was announced by the Deputy Minister of Industry and Construction, Iran Sharkhan, speaking at the international geology forum "Geoscience & Exploration Central Asia" underway in Astana. The deputy minister emphasized that the entire territory of Kazakhstan is now open to geological exploration according to a system modeled after that of Western Australia, the result of reforms initiated in 2018. "Today we are seeing an exponential increase in private investment in geological exploration: approximately 3,000 underground operators are active throughout the country, including in previously unexplored areas," Sharkhan said, specifying that investment in the sector has grown 2,5-fold, reaching $1 billion between 2019 and 2024.

The country's mineral resource base comprises approximately 10 deposits, including 1.009 solid minerals, 359 hydrocarbons, 3.700 common minerals, and 4.931 groundwater deposits. In 2025 alone, exploration activity led to the revision of reserves and the first-time registration of 17 deposits in the state register, including Kok-Zhon, Altyn-Shoko, and Samombet, with additions of 136 tons of gold, 152 tons of silver, 75 tons of copper, and 1,3 million tons of phosphorus. There are currently approximately 3 operating licenses for solid mineral exploration, with the presence of major international mining companies including Cove Capital (United States), Rio Tinto (Australia), Teck Resources (Canada), Fortescue (Australia), Barrick Gold (Canada), First Quantum (Canada) and Ivanhoe (Canada).

Source: https://www.agenzianova.com/