Kazakhstan is stepping up efforts to enhance digitalization and the investment appeal of its subsoil use sector. The Senate, the upper house of the Kazakh Parliament, has approved, in two readings, amendments to the Subsoil and Subsoil Use Code developed at the instruction of the Head of State. Lawmakers say the legislation introduces new rules for granting subsoil use rights. The changes expand the use of electronic auctions, strengthen the responsibility of participants, and grant strategic investors priority rights to explore and extract solid minerals without auctions. The share of domestic value in works and services related to mineral extraction will increase to 70%. Preferences for raw-material processing projects will also be expanded, while accountability for violations will be tightened. A key element of the reform is the unified digital platform for subsoil use. It will serve as the sector’s core infrastructure, automating access to subsoil resources, consolidating geological data, and integrating with the state fuel and energy complex management system. The National Geological Service has been designated as the platform’s operator.
«The status of the National Geological Service as the
operator for managing geological information is enshrined in law. The national
operator will ensure a centralized and unified approach to assessing the state
subsoil fund, eliminating data duplication and fragmentation across agencies.
The organization, which operates under the Geology Committee, will not be
subject to privatization,» said
Senate member Sagyndyk Lukpanov.
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