Sanzhar Zharkeshov, Chairman of the Board of JSC “NC QazaqGaz,” presented a comprehensive report on the company’s performance over the past three years at a Government meeting. QazaqGaz operates as a vertically integrated national company, covering all key segments of the gas industry. The company runs projects across upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors, enabling a full production cycle — from extraction to end-user delivery — and reinforcing Kazakhstan’s energy security.
Expanding the Gas Resource Base
In his address, Zharkeshov highlighted that QazaqGaz has laid a solid foundation for ensuring the country’s resource stability while also strengthening international partnerships in gas exploration and production.
“The gas industry has grown stronger. Thanks to government support and the company’s structured approach, QazaqGaz has achieved a number of strategic goals — especially in geological exploration,” said Zharkeshov.
Over the past three years, QazaqGaz has signed five agreements with both international and local partners, including Chevron, KazAzot, and KOR. New gas deposits were discovered at the Maldybay site and the Anabay field in the Zhambyl region. Agreements have also been signed to finance exploration at the Severnyi-2 and Akkuduk sites in the Aktobe and Mangystau regions. QazaqGaz continues to develop the country’s resource base through collaboration with major operators and private sector players.
Additionally, during the President’s visit to Turkmenistan, QazaqGaz signed a strategic agreement on geological exploration with Turkmengaz, the state gas company of Turkmenistan.
Mega Projects in the Gas Industry
Over the past three years, QazaqGaz has invested more than 700 billion tenge of its own funds in constructing and upgrading infrastructure across the country. One of the key projects is the Taldykorgan–Usharal trunk pipeline, which will supply natural gas to 66 more communities in the Zhetysu region. The project is set to be completed ahead of schedule.
At the Kashagan field, construction is underway on a 1 billion cubic meter gas processing plant. QazaqGaz provides weekly updates to the Government on its progress. The project is being carried out in partnership with Qatar-based Power International Holding (PIH), which has acquired a 75% stake.
A second plant is also under construction at Kashagan to handle the transshipment and fractionation of liquefied petroleum gas — a project with significant socioeconomic importance for the region. Furthermore, QazaqGaz and Turkish investor ESTA have launched a $1.35 billion urea plant initiative.
On the international front, QazaqGaz has been expanding gas transit volumes from Russia to Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan since 2023 and has signed an import agreement for 2025–2026.
Gasification Growth and Digital Transformation
Zharkeshov noted a 4.7% increase in gasification levels across Kazakhstan since 2021, which has enabled an additional 1.7 million people to access natural gas. The company is also exploring options to bring gas to the northeastern regions using a combination of in-house capabilities and international partnerships.
The gas industry is also seeing rapid digitization. New initiatives include digital metering and an online portal for obtaining technical specifications — both aimed at improving transparency, efficiency, and customer service.
In partnership with Chinese firm Goldcard and with support from the Samruk-Kazyna Fund, QazaqGaz is localizing production of 500,000 smart meters per year at a special economic zone in Almaty.
Additionally, the “Social Wallet” project — which provides gas subsidies to vulnerable populations — is being scaled up. According to QazaqGaz, over 100 million tenge in subsidies have already been distributed, benefiting 37% of those receiving targeted social aid and housing assistance.
Moving Forward with Global Ambitions
Wrapping up his report, Zharkeshov emphasized that following a successful financial restructuring, QazaqGaz has launched several cross-border projects, significantly boosting its investment appeal. These initiatives align with the President’s directive to prepare national companies for IPOs. He confirmed that all current projects are on track and reaffirmed the company’s commitment to unlocking Kazakhstan’s full gas potential.
At the close of the meeting, the Prime Minister instructed the Ministry of Energy and QazaqGaz to accelerate proposals for the development of new gas fields and to fully implement a digital gas accounting system by August 1, 2026.
