Subsoil auction · 25 December 2026

The auction of 56 oil and gas blocks on 25 December 2026

Applications are open

12 days left to apply

Applications: until 18 November 2026 inclusive
Bidding: 25 December 2026, 10:00–17:00 Astana time
Platform: e-qazyna.kz

The Ministry of Energy is auctioning hydrocarbon subsoil rights to 56 areas in eight regions: 52 for exploration and production and 4 fields for production. Everything from the notice is here: every block with its bonus, area and mandatory work, what it costs to take part, how to apply and how the bidding goes.

From the Ministry of Energy's notice (September 2026); tenge amounts at the 2026 MCI of 4,325 ₸. Checked on October 17, 2026.

Applications are open

12 days left to apply

Applications: until 18 November 2026 inclusive
Bidding: 25 December 2026, 10:00–17:00 Astana time
Platform: e-qazyna.kz

areas: 52 for exploration and production, 4 for production: 56; areas: 52 for exploration and production, 4 for production
total area of the blocks: 78,129 km²; total area of the blocks
regions, from Mangystau to East Kazakhstan: 8; regions, from Mangystau to East Kazakhstan
starting signature bonuses in total: 2.09 billion ₸; starting signature bonuses in total
the least it takes to bid for one block: 26.38 million ₸; the least it takes to bid for one block
estimate of the minimum exploration programmes: 16,100 line km of 2D and 56 wells: $141.5 million; estimate of the minimum exploration programmes: 16,100 line km of 2D and 56 wells

Dates: from the notice to the first well

The auction dates come from the notice; the later deadlines from the auction rules and the contract terms. The “now” mark shows where the auction stands today.

September 2026
Notice published
The Ministry of Energy posted the notice on e-Qazyna; applications open for two months.
now · November 6, 2026
18 November 2026
Last day for applications
Each application is reviewed within 10 working days; if something is wrong, the applicant has 3 working days to fix it.
25 December 2026, 10:00–17:00
Bidding on e-Qazyna
Bidders enter the auction room up to an hour before the start; a protocol records each block's result the same day.
≈ by late January 2027
Bonus paid, contract signed
Within 20 working days of the results the winner pays the signature bonus and submits the signed contract.
Contract year 1
Exploration project
Prepare the exploration project — an obligation of the winners of the 52 exploration-and-production blocks.
Within 3 years
2D seismic
Shoot the minimum 2D set for the block: 300 to 1,000 line km.
Within 4 years
At least one well
Drill the wells the block's terms require — one or two.
Up to 6 and 25 years
Exploration, then production
The exploration period is up to 6 years; the production period up to 25 years, including a preparatory period of up to 3 years.

All 56 blocks

Click a column heading to sort, or a region on the map to keep only its blocks. Tick blocks to see the sum you would have to pay to bid for all of them.

The figure is how many blocks touch the region; a block on a border counts in each.

Operations

Region

Showing 56 of 56

Sort


1	Tyubedzhik (Karakum)	Mangystau	58.95 24 blocks	118.92 million ₸ 27,497 MCI	238.28 million ₸	1 well(s)	$1 million
2	Begimbet-1	Aktobe	2,010.92 852 blocks	36.85 million ₸ 8,520 MCI	74.13 million ₸	2D reprocessing · 300 km 2D · 1 well(s)	$2 million
3	West Ulytau	Kostanay, Ulytau	2,278.86 999 blocks	43.21 million ₸ 9,990 MCI	86.85 million ₸	300 km 2D · 1 well(s)	$2 million
4	Sholaksay	West Kazakhstan, Aktobe	1,376.4 627 blocks	27.12 million ₸ 6,270 MCI	54.67 million ₸	300 km 2D · 1 well(s)	$2 million
5	Baskumak	Mangystau	106.73 43 blocks	12.98 million ₸ 3,000 MCI	26.38 million ₸	1 well(s)	$2 million
6	Shilisatay	Aktobe	2,018.16 894 blocks	38.67 million ₸ 8,940 MCI	77.76 million ₸	300 km 2D · 1 well(s)	$2 million
7	Karasu	Atyrau, Aktobe	2,339.49 1,033 blocks	44.68 million ₸ 10,330 MCI	89.79 million ₸	300 km 2D · 1 well(s)	$3 million
8	Zhaskayrat	Atyrau, West Kazakhstan	1,922.5 848 blocks	36.68 million ₸ 8,480 MCI	73.78 million ₸	300 km 2D · 1 well(s)	$3 million
9	Ustyurt-4	Mangystau	4,058.53 1,657 blocks	71.67 million ₸ 16,570 MCI	143.76 million ₸	1,000 km 2D · 2 well(s)	$8.5 million
10	Ustyurt-1	Mangystau	1,862.09 769 blocks	33.26 million ₸ 7,690 MCI	66.95 million ₸	400 km 2D · 2 well(s)	$4 million
11	Ustyurt-11	Mangystau	1,068.61 441 blocks	19.07 million ₸ 4,410 MCI	38.58 million ₸	300 km 2D · 1 well(s)	$3 million
12	Ustyurt-6	Mangystau	2,533.02 1,018 blocks	44.03 million ₸ 10,180 MCI	88.49 million ₸	300 km 2D · 2 well(s)	$3 million
13	Ustyurt-7	Mangystau	2,378.58 988 blocks	42.73 million ₸ 9,880 MCI	85.89 million ₸	300 km 2D · 2 well(s)	$3 million
14	Ustyurt-5	Mangystau	1,691.2 685 blocks	29.63 million ₸ 6,850 MCI	59.69 million ₸	300 km 2D · 1 well(s)	$2 million
15	Kosaral	West Kazakhstan	3,161.9 1,421 blocks	61.46 million ₸ 14,210 MCI	123.35 million ₸	300 km 2D · 1 well(s)	$2 million
16	Maylykol	West Kazakhstan	3,220.9 1,447 blocks	62.58 million ₸ 14,470 MCI	125.6 million ₸	300 km 2D · 1 well(s)	$2 million
17	Karakamys	West Kazakhstan, Aktobe, Atyrau	2,814.31 1,254 blocks	54.24 million ₸ 12,540 MCI	108.9 million ₸	300 km 2D · 1 well(s)	$2 million
18	Karakol	West Kazakhstan, Aktobe, Atyrau	2,341.31 1,043 blocks	45.11 million ₸ 10,430 MCI	90.65 million ₸	300 km 2D · 1 well(s)	$2 million
19	Saigachya	Ulytau	1,334.77 570 blocks	24.65 million ₸ 5,700 MCI	49.74 million ₸	300 km 2D · 1 well(s)	$3 million
20	North Kosbulak	Mangystau	2,749.46 1,094 blocks	47.32 million ₸ 10,940 MCI	95.06 million ₸	300 km 2D · 1 well(s)	$2 million
21	South Kosbulak	Mangystau	2,341.02 923 blocks	39.92 million ₸ 9,230 MCI	80.27 million ₸	300 km 2D · 1 well(s)	$2 million
22	Yuzhny (Aktobe)	Aktobe	3,620.04 1,504 blocks	65.05 million ₸ 15,040 MCI	130.53 million ₸	300 km 2D · 1 well(s)	$2 million
23	Syrlyzher	Ulytau	1,857.67 797 blocks	34.47 million ₸ 7,970 MCI	69.37 million ₸	300 km 2D · 1 well(s)	$2 million
24	Block E (West Munaibay)	Mangystau	540.37 224 blocks	12.98 million ₸ 3,000 MCI	26.38 million ₸	300 km 2D · 1 well(s)	$2 million
25	Zhangurshi	Mangystau	154.84 63 blocks	12.98 million ₸ 3,000 MCI	26.38 million ₸	300 km 2D · 1 well(s)	$2 million
26	Akshiy Production	Atyrau	0.14 —	43.25 million ₸ 10,000 MCI	43.68 million ₸	— (production)	—
27	Ashyksor	Atyrau	174.51 73 blocks	12.98 million ₸ 3,000 MCI	26.38 million ₸	300 km 2D · 1 well(s)	$2 million
28	Zhosaly	Kyzylorda	900.83 373 blocks	16.13 million ₸ 3,730 MCI	32.7 million ₸	300 km 2D · 1 well(s)	$3 million
29	East Zharkamys II	Aktobe	1,099.59 474 blocks	20.5 million ₸ 4,740 MCI	41.43 million ₸	300 km 2D · 1 well(s)	$3 million
30	Telikol	Kyzylorda	3,286.15 1,350 blocks	58.39 million ₸ 13,500 MCI	117.21 million ₸	300 km 2D · 1 well(s)	$3 million
31	South Karpovsky-1	West Kazakhstan	248.27 115 blocks	12.98 million ₸ 3,000 MCI	26.38 million ₸	300 km 2D · 1 well(s)	$3 million
32	South Karpovsky-2	West Kazakhstan	477.92 221 blocks	12.98 million ₸ 3,000 MCI	26.38 million ₸	300 km 2D · 1 well(s)	$3 million
33	South Karpovsky-3	West Kazakhstan	221.67 103 blocks	12.98 million ₸ 3,000 MCI	26.38 million ₸	300 km 2D · 1 well(s)	$3 million
34	South Karpovsky-4	West Kazakhstan	49.46 23 blocks	12.98 million ₸ 3,000 MCI	26.38 million ₸	300 km 2D · 1 well(s)	$3 million
35	West Aksaz	Mangystau	553.3 223 blocks	12.98 million ₸ 3,000 MCI	26.38 million ₸	400 km 2D · 1 well(s)	$3 million
36	East Aksaz	Mangystau	72.01 29 blocks	12.98 million ₸ 3,000 MCI	26.38 million ₸	300 km 2D · 1 well(s)	$3 million
37	Aktumsyk	Atyrau, Mangystau, Aktobe	2,080.74 878 blocks	37.97 million ₸ 8,780 MCI	76.38 million ₸	300 km 2D · 1 well(s)	$3 million
38	Karzhau	Mangystau	10.83 by contour	12.98 million ₸ 3,000 MCI	26.38 million ₸	300 km 2D · 1 well(s)	$3 million
39	Emir Production	Mangystau	3.52 by contour	43.25 million ₸ 10,000 MCI	43.68 million ₸	— (production)	—
40	Murynsor	Mangystau	405.41 167 blocks	12.98 million ₸ 3,000 MCI	26.38 million ₸	300 km 2D · 1 well(s)	$3 million
41	Tobearal-1	Atyrau	92.07 39 blocks	12.98 million ₸ 3,000 MCI	26.38 million ₸	400 km 2D · 1 well(s)	$3 million
42	East Kumkol Production	Ulytau	15.15 by contour	65.79 million ₸ 15,210 MCI	66.22 million ₸	— (production)	—
43	Liman	Atyrau	93.55 40 blocks	12.98 million ₸ 3,000 MCI	26.38 million ₸	300 km 2D · 1 well(s)	$3 million
44	Alatobe	Mangystau	1,519.03 622 blocks	26.9 million ₸ 6,220 MCI	54.24 million ₸	300 km 2D · 1 well(s)	$3 million
45	North Bektas	Kyzylorda	51.96 by contour	12.98 million ₸ 3,000 MCI	26.38 million ₸	300 km 2D · 1 well(s)	$3 million
46	Vostochny	Aktobe	3,364.16 1,476 blocks	63.84 million ₸ 14,760 MCI	128.11 million ₸	300 km 2D · 1 well(s)	$3 million
47	Karabas	East Kazakhstan	4,045.47 1,743 blocks	75.38 million ₸ 17,430 MCI	151.2 million ₸	300 km 2D · 1 well(s)	$3 million
48	Konyr	Mangystau	124.37 50 blocks	12.98 million ₸ 3,000 MCI	26.38 million ₸	300 km 2D · 1 well(s)	$3 million
49	Akkuduk	Atyrau, Mangystau	1,138.29 479 blocks	20.72 million ₸ 4,790 MCI	41.87 million ₸	300 km 2D · 1 well(s)	$3 million
50	Yuzhny (Atyrau)	Atyrau, Mangystau	3,386.55 1,418 blocks	61.33 million ₸ 14,180 MCI	123.09 million ₸	300 km 2D · 1 well(s)	$3 million
51	Karazhanbas	Mangystau	252.01 104 blocks	12.98 million ₸ 3,000 MCI	26.38 million ₸	400 km 2D · 1 well(s)	$3 million
52	Zhangurshi Production	Mangystau	8.61 by contour	220.27 million ₸ 50,931 MCI	220.71 million ₸	— (production)	—
53	Kamysty	West Kazakhstan	2,931.71 1,149 blocks	49.69 million ₸ 11,490 MCI	99.82 million ₸	300 km 2D · 1 well(s)	$2 million
54	Bulak	Aktobe	981.17 411 blocks	17.78 million ₸ 4,110 MCI	35.98 million ₸	300 km 2D · 1 well(s)	$3 million
55	Zhetykol	Aktobe	414.64 169 blocks	12.98 million ₸ 3,000 MCI	26.38 million ₸	300 km 2D · 1 well(s)	$3 million
56	Tamdykol	Aktobe, Atyrau	285.52 126 blocks	12.98 million ₸ 3,000 MCI	26.38 million ₸	300 km 2D · 1 well(s)	$2 million

To take part: guarantee + participation fee

Largest blocks

1.Ustyurt block 44,058.53 km²
2.Karabas block4,045.47 km²
3.Yuzhny block (Aktobe Region)3,620.04 km²
4.Yuzhny block (Atyrau Region)3,386.55 km²
5.Vostochny block3,364.16 km²

Highest starting bonuses

1.Zhangurshi field220.27 million ₸
2.Tyubedzhik (Karakum) block118.92 million ₸
3.Karabas block75.38 million ₸
4.Ustyurt block 471.67 million ₸
5.East Kumkol field65.79 million ₸

Cheapest to enter

19 blocks start at the minimum bonus of 3,000 MCI (12.98 million ₸). To bid for any of them you pay in 26,382,500 ₸.

Four fields offered for production

These lots carry no exploration programme: the winner signs a production contract straight away, and the guarantee equals one starting bonus rather than two. Their starting bonuses are at least 10,000 MCI (43.25 million ₸), the Tax Code minimum for areas with approved reserves.

Lot 52 of 56
Zhangurshi field
Mangystau Region
Area
8.61 km²
Depth
to the base of the Neocomian
Starting bonus
220.27 million ₸
To take part
220.71 million ₸
Details On the industry map
Lot 42 of 56
East Kumkol field
Ulytau Region
Area
15.15 km²
Depth
−2,000 m
Starting bonus
65.79 million ₸
To take part
66.22 million ₸
Details On the industry map
Lot 26 of 56
Akshiy field
Atyrau Region
Area
0.137 km²
Depth
—
Starting bonus
43.25 million ₸
To take part
43.68 million ₸
Details
Lot 39 of 56
Emir field
Mangystau Region
Area
3.52 km²
Depth
−3,100 m
Starting bonus
43.25 million ₸
To take part
43.68 million ₸
Details On the industry map

Blocks by region

Mangystau has the most blocks. The table counts every block once, under the first region the notice names, so the sums add up to the total.

Region	Blocks	Area, km²	Starting bonuses, total	Lowest bonus	Highest bonus
Mangystau Region	21	22,492	853.74 million ₸	12.98 million ₸	220.27 million ₸
West Kazakhstan Region	10	16,844	352.1 million ₸	12.98 million ₸	62.58 million ₸
Atyrau Region	9	11,228	283.55 million ₸	12.98 million ₸	61.33 million ₸
Aktobe Region	8	13,794	268.63 million ₸	12.98 million ₸	65.05 million ₸
Kyzylorda Region	3	4,239	87.49 million ₸	12.98 million ₸	58.39 million ₸
Ulytau Region	3	3,208	124.91 million ₸	24.65 million ₸	65.79 million ₸
East Kazakhstan Region	1	4,045	75.38 million ₸	75.38 million ₸	75.38 million ₸
Kostanay Region	1	2,279	43.21 million ₸	43.21 million ₸	43.21 million ₸
Total	56	78,129	2.09 billion ₸	12.98 million ₸	220.27 million ₸

What it costs to take part

To apply for a block you pay the auction operator two amounts — separately for every block.

Participation fee — 100 MCI (432,500 ₸)

It is never refunded: the operator transfers it to the budget within 3 working days of the platform accepting the application.

Guarantee — two starting bonuses, or one

Twice the starting bonus for exploration-and-production blocks, once for production fields. It secures the winner's payment of the bonus.

Getting the guarantee back

Applicants who were not admitted and bidders below second place get it back within 3 working days of asking. The winner and the runner-up get theirs once the winner has met its obligations; on request the winner's guarantee goes towards the bonus. If the winner does not pay the bonus or sign the contract, its guarantee goes to the budget.

Where to pay

Both go to the electronic auction operator, Information and Accounting Centre JSC, as separate payments for each block. Take the bank details only from the notice on e-Qazyna: we deliberately do not reprint them, so that no money goes to forged details.

Example: a block with a starting bonus of 12,975,000 ₸ — guarantee 25,950,000 ₸ + participation fee 432,500 ₸ = 26,382,500 ₸. The winner then pays the final signature bonus — the one reached in the bidding — within 20 working days of the results.

How to apply

The procedure follows Arts. 95–97 of the Code on Subsoil and the hydrocarbon e-auction rules.

1
Get a digital signature and an e-Qazyna account
Applications are filed only electronically, through the operator's platform, and signed with an electronic digital signature.
e-qazyna.kz
2
Study the block
Available geological information comes from the National Geological Service JSC and the unified subsoil-use platform. After winning, the subsoil user signs an agreement with the Geology Committee on confidentiality and on repaying the state's historical costs of studying the area.
3
Pay both amounts for every block
The participation fee and the guarantee — separate payments for every block, to the details in the notice.
4
File the application by 18 November inclusive
The application gives the applicant's details, those who control it or hold its shares (with a chart of the ownership structure) and proof that both amounts are paid. It comes with an undertaking to meet the terms of the notice and documents showing the applicant meets the Code's requirements. Documents are in Kazakh and Russian; a foreign applicant attaches notarised translations.
5
Wait for admission
The review takes 10 working days. If something is wrong, the applicant has 3 working days to fix it and file again, even after the deadline; the second review takes 5 working days. Admission is refused if the application is late, if in the last three years the state terminated a contract with the applicant or its group early, if there are unremedied breaches under another contract, if the applicant once won an auction and did not pay the bonus, or if the right would threaten national security.
6
On the day
Registration closes 5 minutes before the start, after which the application cannot be withdrawn. Bidders enter the auction room up to an hour before the start with their digital signature and the auction number the platform assigns.

How the bidding works

The highest signature bonus wins. The procedure is set by the hydrocarbon e-auction rules.

Before the start every bidder enters an offer of at least the starting bonus plus one step and at most five times the starting bonus.
Bidding opens at the highest of the offers; from then on any bidder can raise the current bid by one step.
If nobody raises within 10 minutes of the last raise, the block goes to whoever raised last. If nobody raises the opening bid within 10 minutes of the start, the auction for that block fails.
Bidding runs from 10:00 to 17:00 Astana time. If there is no winner by 17:00, the bidder who confirmed the last bid wins.
If fewer than two bidders are registered for a block on the day, its auction does not take place; if the only one is the applicant who initiated the auction, the contract is signed with it at the starting bonus.
A register the platform builds automatically and a protocol the same day record the results; the winner gets a copy of the protocol by email. Results can be checked, without bidders' personal data, on qazchain.kz.

Auction step

Current bonus	Step
below 20,000 MCIbelow 86.5 million ₸	25 %
20,000 MCI to 50,000 MCI86.5 million ₸ to 216.25 million ₸	20 %
50,000 MCI to 100,000 MCI216.25 million ₸ to 432.5 million ₸	15 %
100,000 MCI to 250,000 MCI432.5 million ₸ to 1.08 billion ₸	10 %
250,000 MCI and above1.08 billion ₸ and above	5 %

Every block's page gives the range of the opening offer and the step for its bonus.

Contract terms

The terms are the same for every block except the work volumes, which the notice sets block by block.

Contract periods

Exploration: up to 6 years. Production: up to 25 years, including a preparatory period of up to 3 years.

Exploration obligations

A project of exploration works within a year of the contract, the block's 2D seismic within three years and at least one well within four, where the block's terms require it.

Spending during production

1% of the previous year's production costs on training Kazakh staff; another 1% on research, scientific and design work in Kazakhstan; 1% of the contract investment on the region's social and economic development and its infrastructure.

Local content and staff

At least 70% in works, 70% in services and 30% in goods. Kazakh citizens must be at least 80% of managers and their deputies, 90% of heads of departments and 100% of specialists and skilled workers.

If the discovery is large

With initial geological reserves above 100 million tonnes of oil or 50 billion m³ of gas, the contract must carry one of three obligations: build or upgrade a processing plant, supply the output for processing in Kazakhstan, or carry out another investment or social project.

Special conditions

Take over the wells drilled on the block earlier and monitor them. On blocks in the Pre-Caspian basin the work goes down to −5,000 m.

Code on Subsoil and Subsoil Use, Arts. 19 and 94–102 Hydrocarbon e-auction rules (Order No. 269)Tax Code: the signature bonus

After the auction

1Within 20 working days of the results the winner pays the final signature bonus and submits to the Ministry of Energy the contract signed on its side.
2A winner who misses the deadline loses the contract and the guarantee. Within 3 working days the contract is offered to the runner-up, who also gets 20 working days. If it does not sign either, the block goes back to auction.
3The Ministry of Energy registers the contract; the exploration period and the deadlines run from the date of registration.
4The results can be challenged in court within three months of publication if a breach of the rules affected the choice of the winner.

What follows year by year — projects, reviews and the authorities' deadlines — is on a Gantt chart: Field development stages

Questions

Who can take part?

Individuals and companies, foreign ones included, that applied on time and were admitted. Foreign applicants attach notarised translations of their documents into Kazakh and Russian.

Can I bid for several blocks?

Yes. Each block needs its own application, participation fee and guarantee. Tick the blocks in the table and the estimate adds up the sums.

How much money does it take to bid?

The guarantee plus the 432,500 ₸ participation fee. The least is 26,382,500 ₸ (blocks with a 3,000 MCI starting bonus), the most 238,279,188 ₸ (Tyubedzhik block).

Do I get the money back if I lose?

The guarantee, yes — within 3 working days of a refund request. The participation fee is not refunded.

What do “blocks” and “by contour” mean?

A block is a cell of the state grid one geographical minute on each side (Art. 19 of the Code); at these latitudes that is about 2.3–2.5 km². “By contour” means the area is drawn along the outline of a field or plot rather than made of blocks.

Why do four lots have no exploration programme?

They are fields offered for production: the winner signs a production contract, not an exploration-and-production one. Their guarantee equals one starting bonus.

What is the MCI and why are the amounts in tenge?

The MCI is the monthly calculation index. The Tax Code sets starting bonuses in MCI, and the notice converts them into tenge at the 2026 MCI of 4,325 ₸. The participation fee is 100 MCI.

Where do I get geological data?

From the National Geological Service JSC (contacts below) and the unified subsoil-use platform. The winner later repays the state's costs of studying the area under an agreement with the Geology Committee.

Where are the results published?

Each block's protocol appears on e-Qazyna on the day of the auction; the results can be checked on qazchain.kz. We will add them to this page once they are published.

What if a block's auction fails?

If fewer than two bidders are registered for a block on the day, or nobody raises the opening bid, its auction is declared failed; the notice of that appears on the unified subsoil-use platform within one working day.

Sources and contacts

Where the data come from

Whom to ask (as given in the notice)

Ministry of Energy — questions about the auction

+7 (7172) 786 895 +7 (7172) 786 863

National Geological Service JSC — geological information

32 A. Mambetov St., Astana

+7 (7172) 57-93-47 delo@geology.kz

MunaiHub is an independent industry portal, not the organiser or the operator of the auction. We carried the data over from the notice and checked the sums; where anything differs, the notice on e-Qazyna prevails.

To assess a block — library lessonsLicences and subsoil-use contracts Reserves and resources classification Seismic acquisition and processing Drilling time and cost Geological risk and chance of success Risk reduction and diversification Geophysical exploration methods Expected monetary value The state and the subsoil: resource ownership

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