G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1  
 
21 April 2016  
(16-2261)  Page: 1/131  
Committee on Trade-Related Investment Measures  Original: English  
 
NOTIFICATION UNDER ARTICLE 5.1 OF THE AGREEMENT 
ON TRADE-RELATED INVESTMENT MEASURES 
KAZAKHSTAN  
The following communication, dated 14 March 2016, is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of Kazakhstan.  
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In accordance with Article 5.1 of the Agreem ent on Trade-Related Investment Measures, the 
Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan notifies the  provisions of the local content requirements 
in the oil and gas and mining sectors (hereinafter referred to as the "local content requirements") 
and provisions of the agreements on industrial a ssembly of motor vehicles in accordance with the 
format recommended for notifications under Article 5.1 of the Agreement on Trade-Related 
Investment Measures (document G/TRIMS/1). 
I TRIMs in the Oil and Gas and Mining Sector  Details of the "local content requirements" ar e described in paragraphs 876-889, 896-897 of 
the Report of the Working Party on the Accession of  the Republic of Kazakhstan to the World Trade 
Organization (document WT/ACC/KAZ/93 of 23 June 2015) (hereinafter referred to as the "WPR"). Paragraph 897 of the WPR provides for transition period for the local content requirements applied 
under investment contracts concluded prior to 1 January 2015 in accordance with Law No. 291 IV 
"On Subsurface and Subsurface Use" of 24 June 2010 until the date of expiration of the initial 
duration of the contracts or by 1 January 2021, wh ichever takes place sooner, and the Republic of 
Kazakhstan considers that the present notification is without prejudice to this waiver. 
The Republic of Kazakhstan would engage in co nsultations with interested WTO Members, no 
later than 1 July 2019, regarding WTO consistent measures that could be applied, and notify WTO Members of any measures planned to replace WTO-inconsistent measures at least six month prior 
to the adoption of any measures. 
(i) Description of the measur e and of its main features 
The local content requirements in the oil and ga s and mining sector were introduced in 2004 
by the Republic of Kazakhstan to encourage the use of domestically produced goods in order to 
create favourable climate for development of processing industries. They were aimed at: 
(i) ensuring the rational restructuring of subsurface use; (ii) achieving sustainable economic development through economic diversification and reduction of the economy's high dependence on 
volatile world prices for exports of mineral resources; and, (iii) creating an environment conducive 
to development of processing industries and production of high value-added goods.  
The local content was regulated by Law No. 291-IV "On Subsurface and Subsurface Use" 
of 24 June 2010 (hereinafter: Law "On Subsurface and Subsurface Use"), which had replaced Law 
No. 2828 "On Subsurface and Subsurface Use" of 27 January 1996.  G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  The legal basis for local content in purchasing goods for conducting subsurface operations 
was established in Article 78 of Law "On Subsurface and Subsurface Use", which required subsurface users to use domestically produced go ods provided that they met the requirements of 
project documentation and legislation of the Repu blic of Kazakhstan on technical regulation. 
In implementation of Article 16 of Law "On Subsurface and Subsurface Use", Kazakhstan 
adopted the new "Rules for Procurement of Goods and Services in Performance of Subsurface Use Operations", approved by Government Resolu tion No. 134 of 14 February 2013 (hereinafter: 
Rules), which had replaced Government Resolution No. 1139 "On Approval of Rules of 
Procurement of Goods, Works and Services in Performance of Subsurface Use Operations" of 28 November 2007.  
Specifically, the following provisions of the local content requirements are the subject of the 
present notification: 
1. Provisions of paragraph 1 of Article 78 of the Law "On Subsurface and Subsurface Use" 
that required the subsurface user and its contractors to procure goods from Kazakhstan producers, 
provided that such producers met the requirements  of project documentation and legislation of the 
Republic of Kazakhstan on technical regulation. 
2. Provisions of paragraph 2 of Article 78 of the Law "On Subsurface and Subsurface Use" 
that required the tender organizer in determining a tender winner to conditionally reduce the price 
of the bids submitted by those tender participan ts that were Kazakhstan producers by twenty 
percent.  
3. Provisions of the Rules that stipulated granting local producers of goods twenty percent 
conditional price discount in an open tender in determining the tender winner. 
1. Category in the illustrative list under which the measure falls. 
In accordance with the Illustrative List of the TRIMs Agreement, local content requirements 
would correspond to the category given in paragraph 1(a). 
2. Is the TRIM applied by the government under discretionary authority or mandatory 
legislation? 
The local content requirements are applied under mandatory legislation. The Law No. 365-V 
"On Amendments and Addenda to Legislative Acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan Related to the 
Accession to the World Trade Organization" in troduced amendments into the Law No. 291-IV 
"On Subsurface and Subsurface Use" of 24 June 2010 in order to bring it into compliance with the 
WTO requirements. Specifically, local content requirements were amended taking into account the 
transition period: 
- Kazakhstan eliminated local content requirements in goods in conclusion of new 
contracts on subsurface use.  
- for subsurface use contracts, concluded prior to 1 January 2015 a transition period 
until 1 January 2021 is stipulated. 
3. Where the TRIM is general in nature , the criteria for determining to which 
enterprise it applies in sufficient detail to enable those enterprises to be identified. 
The local content provisions were established individually in each subsurface use contract 
depending on the specifics of the goods required for its implementation.  
Currently, there were 565 contracts signed between the Government of Kazakhstan and 
subsurface users: 203 of which on crude hydrocarbons and 362 in the mining sector. 
Of 203 contracts on crude hydrocarbons, 94 would expire by 2020 and 109 in the period from 
2021 to 2053. Of 362 contracts in the mining se ctor, 144 would expire by 2020 and 218 in the 
period from 2021 to 2060. G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  Of 203 contracts on crude hydrocarbons, 193 contained numerical local content 
commitments set in percentage and 10 contained textual local content commitments. Of 362 contracts in the mining sector, 351 contained numerical commitments set in percentage and 11 contained textual local content commitments.  
4. Where the TRIM is applied pursuant to mandatory legislation, whether the 
legislation requires the measure to be applie d to new enterprises or new investments of 
existing enterprises? 
The local content requirements are applied und er mandatory legislation. They are applied 
only under investment contracts concluded prior to 1 January 2015 in accordance with Law "On Subsurface and Subsurface Use" until the date  of expiration of the initial duration of the 
contracts or by 1 January 2021, whichever takes place sooner. They will not be applied to new 
enterprises or new investments ma de by existing enterprises.  
The Law No. 365-V "On Amendments and Addenda to Legislative Acts of the Republic of 
Kazakhstan Related to the Accession to the World Trade Organization" introduced amendments 
into the Law No. 291-IV "On Subsurface and Subsurface Use" of 24 June 2010 in order to bring it 
into compliance with the WTO requirements. Specifically, local content requirements were amended taking into account the transition period: 
- Kazakhstan eliminated local content requirements in goods in conclusion of new 
contracts on subsurface use. 
- for subsurface use contracts, concluded prior to 1 January 2015 a transition period 
until 1 January 2021 is stipulated. 
5. The compliance with the measure by the enterprise is (a) mandatory or 
enforceable under domestic law or administrati ve rulings or (b) necessary to obtain an 
advantage? 
Compliance with the measures is mandatory und er domestic law, as well as necessary to 
obtain an advantage (subsurface use right). The Law No. 365-V "On Amendments and Addenda to Legislative Acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan Related to the Accession to the World Trade 
Organization" introduced amendments into the Law No. 291-IV "On Subsurface and Subsurface 
Use" of 24 June 2010 in order to bring it into co mpliance with the WTO requirements. Specifically, 
local content requirements were amended taking into account the transition period: 
- Kazakhstan eliminated local content requirements in goods in conclusion of new 
contracts on subsurface use. 
- for subsurface use contracts, concluded prior to 1 January 2015 a transition period 
until 1 January 2021 is stipulated. 
6. When the TRIM relates to specific products, sufficient detail on these products to 
define the scope of the measures. 
The measure does not relate to specific product. 
7. The date of implementation of the TRIM and the nature of any modification of the 
TRIM effected within 180 days prior to th e entry into force of the WTO Agreement. 
The measure has been applied since 1 December 2004 when the Law No. 2828 
"On Subsurface and Subsurface Use" of 27 January 1996 was amended by the Law No. 2 
"On Amendments and Addenda to Some Legislative Acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the 
Issues of Subsurface Use and Conducting Petroleu m Operations in the Republic of Kazakhstan". 
The measure was incorporated into new Law No. 291-IV "On Subsurface and Subsurface Use" 
of 24 June 2010. G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  Government Resolution No. 1139 "On Approval of Rules of Procurement of Goods, Works 
and Services in Performance of Subsurface Use Operations" of 28 November 2007 were replaced by new "Rules for Procurement of Goods and Services in Performance of Subsurface Use Operations", approved by Government Resolution No. 134 of 14 February 2013. 
No modification was effected within 180 days prior to the accession of the Republic of 
Kazakhstan to the WTO.  
8. Whether the TRIM, as applied under do mestic law, includes provision for its 
phasing down and/or elimination. 
The ultimate date of expiration of local content requirements applied under investment 
contracts concluded prior to 1 January 2015 in accordance with Law No. 291 IV "On Subsurface and Subsurface Use" of 24 June 2010 is until the date of expiration of the initial duration of the 
contracts or 1 January 2021, whichever takes place sooner. 
9. The domestic law, regulation or admini strative guideline under which the TRIM is 
applied; a copy should be submitted to the Se cretariat to be available for inspection by 
interested Members. 
An unofficial translation of the Law No. 291-IV "On Subsurface and Subsurface Use" 
of 24 June 2010 is attached. 
10. The level of government applying the TR IM, the name of the implementing agency 
and any information on the procedures govern ing its application necessary to enable its 
nature and scope to be understood. 
Local content requirements are applied by the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
Specifically by the Ministry of Investment and Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan in 
collaboration with the Ministry of Ener gy of the Republic of Kazakhstan.  
(ii) General information on the Programme in question 
The Law No. 365-V "On Amendments and Addenda to Legislative Acts of the Republic of 
Kazakhstan Related to the Accession to the World Trade Organization" introduced amendments into the Law No. 291-IV "On Subsurface and Subsurface Use" of 24 June 2010 in order to bring it 
into compliance with the WTO requirements. Specifically, local content requirements were 
amended taking into account the transition period: 
- Kazakhstan eliminated local content requirements in goods in conclusion of new 
contracts on subsurface use.  
- for subsurface use contracts, concluded prior to 1 January 2015 a transition period 
until 1 January 2021 is stipulated. 
II TRIMs in Automotive Sector 
Details of the industrial assembly of motor vehicles are described in paragraphs 890-897 of 
the Report of the Working Party on the Accession of  the Republic of Kazakhstan to the World Trade 
Organization (document WT/ACC/KAZ/93 of 23 June 2015) (hereinafter referred to as the "WPR"). 
In accordance with Paragraph 897 of the WPR, all WTO-inconsistent measures applied in 
accordance with industrial assembly agreements concluded under the provisions of Order of the Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Industry and New Technologies No. 113 "On Certain Issues on Concluding, Conditions and Model Form of the Agreement on Industrial Assembly of Motor Vehicle 
with Legal Entities – Residents of the Republic of Kazakhstan" of 11 June 2010 referred to in 
paragraph 893 (JSC "Agromashholding", LLP "SaryarkaAvtoProm", JSC "Azia Avto", signed in 2010 and JSC "AziaAvto Kazakhstan", signed in 2012 for a term of 8 years with the possibility of further 
extension) would be eliminated by 1 July 2018. G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  The Republic of Kazakhstan would engage in co nsultations with interested WTO Members, no 
later than 1 July 2016, regarding WTO consistent measures that could be applied, and notify WTO Members of any measures planned to replace WTO-inconsistent measures at least six month prior to the adoption of any measures. 
Description of the measure and of its main features 
The main goal of concluding agreement on industrial assembly of motor vehicles is attracting 
investors into automobile sector of economy. In 2010 the Government of Kazakhstan for the first 
time signed an agreement on industrial assembly of motor vehicles with JSC "Azia Avto", according 
to which JSC "Azia Avto" shall within 84 months co mplete the project of creation of full-cycle 
automobile factory. The automobile factory shall include stamping cycle, welding and paint finishes, as well as the issuing of automobile components.  
Industrial assembly agreements in Kazakhstan were concluded in accordance with the "Rules 
on Concluding the Agreement on Industrial Assembly  of Motor Vehicles", approved by Order of the 
Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Industry  and New Technologies No. 113 of 11 June 2010 
(hereinafter referred to as "Order No. 113"). 
The legal basis for preferential tariffs or tariff exemptions for imports of components used 
for assembling motor vehicles and parts and components thereof under the "industrial assembly" 
regime was established by the Customs Union Common External Tariff (as approved by the 
Decision of the Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission No. 54 of 16 July 2012) (hereinafter referred to as the "CU CET"). 
Specifically, the following provisions of agreements on industrial assembly of motor vehicles 
are the subject of the present notification: 
1. Provisions of Order No. 113, establishing local content requirements for investors 
(reaching the level of localization no less than 50%) concluded agreements on industrial assembly 
of motor vehicles.  
2. The right of legal persons in the automotive sector to enjoy preferential import duty rates 
"for industrial assembly" (stipulated in Part II of Order No. 113) under importation of components 
if such legal persons fulfil the requirements of Order No. 113. 
1. Category in the illustrative list under which the measure falls. 
In accordance with the Illustrative List of the TRIMs Agreement, preferential tariffs and tariff 
exemptions coupled with certain local content requirements would correspond to the category 
given in paragraph 1(a). 
2. Is the TRIM applied by the government under discretionary authority or mandatory 
legislation? 
Provisions of agreement on industrial assembly of motor vehicles is applied under 
discretionary authority. 
3. Where the TRIM is general in nature , the criteria for determining to which 
enterprise it applies in sufficient detail to enable those enterprises to be identified. 
To be entitled to the tariff preferences, producers of motor vehicles or parts and components 
thereof should conclude an agreement with the Ministry of Investments and Development of the 
Republic of Kazakhstan and meet the requirements  set out by Order No. 113. Lists of agreements 
concluded with investors by the date of accession of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the WTO are 
contained in paragraph 893 of the WPR. G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  4. Where the TRIM is applied pursuant to mandatory legislation, whether the 
legislation requires the measure to be applie d to new enterprises or new investments of 
existing enterprises? 
Provisions of agreement on industrial assembly of motor vehicles are applied under 
discretionary authority. 
5. The compliance with the measure by the enterprise is (a) mandatory or 
enforceable under domestic law or administrati ve rulings or (b) necessary to obtain an 
advantage? 
Compliance with the measures is necessary to  obtain an advantage (tariff preferences). 
6. When the TRIM relates to specific products, sufficient detail on these products to 
define the scope of the measures. 
The measure relates to motor vehicles (HS 8701-8705) and their components stipulated in 
the Order No. 113. 
7.  The date of implementation of the TRIM  and the nature of any modification of the 
TRIM effected within 180 days prior to th e entry into force of the WTO Agreement. 
The measure has been applied since 11 June 2010 when Order No. 113 came into force. 
Since this date only once amendments took place: in accordance with Order of Acting Minister of 
Industry and New Technologies of the Repu blic of Kazakhstan of 25 June 2014 No. 243 
"On Amendments and Additions to Order of the Depu ty Prime Minister – Minister of Industry and 
New Technologies No. 113 of 11 June 2010 " Оn Certain Issues of Concluding, Conditions and 
Model Form of the Agreement on Industrial Asse mbly of Motor Vehicles with Legal Entities – 
Residents of the Republic of Kazakhstan ". No modification was effected within 180 days prior to 
the accession of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the WTO. 
8. Whether the TRIM, as applied under do mestic law, includes provision for its 
phasing down and/or elimination. 
The ultimate date of expiration of the agr eements between investors and the Ministry of 
Investments and Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan is 31 December 2020. 
9. The domestic law, regulation or admini strative guideline under which the TRIM is 
applied; a copy should be submitted to the Se cretariat to be available for inspection by 
interested Members. 
An unofficial translation of the Order No. 113 is attached. 
10. The level of government applying the TR IM, the name of the implementing agency 
and any information on the procedures govern ing its application necessary to enable its 
nature and scope to be understood. 
Agreements on industrial assembly is concluded between the Ministry of Investments and 
Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan and legal entities. CU CET is administered by the supranational body - Eurasian Economic Commission. 
_______________ G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  ATTACHMENT 
Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan No. 291-IV 
«On Subsurface and Subsurface Use» of 24 June 2010 
The order of enforcement of this Law of th e Republic of Kazakhstan - see Article 130 
This Law regulates social relations in the sphere of subsurface use and shall be aimed at protection 
of the interests of the Republic of Kazakhstan as well as rational and comprehensive subsurface 
study and use. 
Chapter 1. General provisions  
Article 1. Main definitions, used in this Law1 
The following main definitions are used in this Law: 1) Designer's supervision is the monitoring of comp liance by a subsurface user of the provisions of 
project documents, performed by a project organization, in accordance with the project works 
contractor agreement; 
1-1) insufficiently explored areas of subsurface- subsurface areas in which prospects of forecast 
resources were estimated preliminarily. 
2) depleted reserves - the volume of mineral reserves produced and written off from the State 
balance, including actual losses generated in the process of production;  
2-1) auction - a simplified procedure to determine the winner from among the participants of the 
tender, who submitted applications for participation in the auction; 
3) appraisal works is a stage of geological exploration works conducted for the purposes of the 
evaluation of a discovered object, appraisal of resources under industrial categories, and feasibility 
study of its involvement into industrial development; 
4) appraisal works project-project document draw n up during the exploration in the case of 
detection of promising areas and manifestations of minerals, establishing the methodology, types 
and volumes of exploration to obtain the information necessary and sufficient geological and 
economic evaluation of industrial significance of  the identified deposit, reserves estimation and 
feasibility study of the feasibility of its involvement in industrial development; 
5) exploration is the works (operations) related to  the search and geological exploration of mineral 
deposits with the assessment of their commercial value; 
5-1) model contract for exploration - a contract concluded with a person who has been granted the 
right to explore in a simplified procedure in accordan ce with this Law, in the form approved by the 
competent authority; 
5-2) construction and (or) operation of underground facilities related to exploration and (or) 
production, - the construction and (or) operation of underground facilities intended for disposal 
and storage of industrial waste formed as a result  of exploration and (or) production according to 
the approved project document for exploration and (or) production; 
                                               
1 Article 1 as amended by the Laws of the Republ ic of Kazakhstan dated 05.07.2011 No. 452-IV (shall 
be enforced from 13.10.2011); dated 09.01.2012 No. 535-IV (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication); dated 12.01. 2012 No. 538-IV (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten 
calendar days after its first official publication); dated 22.06.2012 No. 21-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication), dated 26.12.2012 No. 61-V (shall be enforced upon expiry 
of ten calendar days after its first official publication), dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon 
expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication), dated 27.10.2015 No. 365-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  6) construction and (or) operation of underground facilities not related to the exploration and (or) 
production – means the activities on construction and (or) operation of underground facilities or facilities embedded below the soil level for oil and gas storage, tunnels, subways, constructions 
intended for the injection of ground waters into subsurface for artificial replenishment of the 
reserves, tailings storages, sludge depositories for burial or storage of solid, fluid or radioactive 
wastes, noxious substances and discharge of waste and industrial waters into subsurface; 
7) technologically unavoidable gas flaring is the flaring of gas in the course of technological gas 
processing operations due to the lack of technical capabilities to conduct such operations without 
flaring; 
8) Geological information - a set of materials containing information on natural and artificial (paper 
and electronic) and other media on the material composition, geological structure and history of 
geological, geochemical, geophysical, hydrogeological, geomorphological and tectonic features of 
the subsurface and their plots, fields and bodies of  useful resources, information on the results of 
geological exploration of the contract territory in the form of text, cartographic and technical 
documentation;  
9) a geological allotment is an annex to a contract for exploration, combined exploration and 
production that is its integral part, which defines schematically and descriptively a portion of 
subsurface within which the subsurface user shall have the right to perform exploration; 
9-1) Control devices of the account - a set of technical devices, providing the measurement of 
volumes of extraction, production, preparation,  processing, transportation, storage, sale, 
shipment, loss of importation into the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan and export of oil from 
the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as we ll as the transfer of information in real time 
information to the operator of the system of o il accounting approved for use in accordance with 
the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan  in the field of ensuring the uniformity of 
measurements; 
10) a coastline is the shore line of waters that is formed as a result of a maximum tide 
(high water); 
11) ground waters are the concentrations of water in subsurface that are used in accordance with 
this Law and the water legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan; 
12) subsurface is a part of the earth's crust allocated underneath the soil layer or with exposure of 
minerals on the surface, and where there is no  soil, underneath the land surface and under the 
bottom of seas, lakes, rivers and other waters, ex tending to the depths that are accessible for the 
performing the subsurface use operations, in recognition of the scientific and technological progress; 
13) normalized losses of minerals are the losses, technologically connected with the adopted 
methods and systems of mineral development during production, the level of that is supported by 
technical-economic calculations; 
14) an authorized body for the research and use of subsurface is the State body performing the 
functions on the implementation of the State policy and control in the sphere of geological studies, 
rational and comprehensive use of subsurface, as well as other functions in the sphere of subsurface use, established by legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan; 
15) safe subsurface use is the provision of ecological, and sanitary and epidemiological and 
industrial safety in the conducting subsurface use operations; 
16) subsurface protection is the system of measures  stipulated by the legislation of the Republic of 
Kazakhstan on subsurface and subsurface use, aimed at the prevention of subsurface 
contamination in the course of subsurface use operations and reduction of harmful impact of subsurface use operations on the environment; 
17) State geological study of subsurface - systemic  regional geological studies, geological survey 
works with a view of obtaining comprehensive geological information and the creation of State G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  geological maps that make up the informational base of subsurface use; search, prospect 
evaluation and exploration; applied research in the field of study and use of mineral resources; 
monitoring of subsurface condition; liquidation and conservation of flowing hydro and oil wells; 
18) subsurface use operations are the activities re lated to State exploration, exploration and (or) 
production of minerals, including those relating to exploration and production of ground water, 
therapeutic muds, subsurface exploration for the disposal of sewage, as well as the construction and (or) operation of underground facilities not related to exploration and (or) production; 
19) concentration of rights to conduct subsurface  use operations is holding by one person or a 
group of persons from one country of such share in  contracts in the territory of the Republic of 
Kazakhstan or such participating interest in the charter capitals (set of shares) of organizations being the subsurface users in the Republic of Kazakhstan that are able to create, or are creating a 
threat to the economic interests of the Republic of Kazakhstan; 
20) register of goods, works and services used in performance of subsurface operations and their 
producers is the State information system intend ed to control and monitor of the purchase of 
goods, works and services used in subsurface oper ations and their producers, as well as in the 
performance of electronic purchases and formation of a list of goods, works and services used in 
the conducting subsurface use operations; 
21) a national subsurface use company (hereinafter referred to as the national company) is a joint 
stock company formed by the resolution of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan or local executive bodies of regions, cities of republican  significance, the capital city, whose controlling 
portfolio of shares is owned by the State or by  a national management holding, performing its 
activity in certain spheres of land use the terms established by the legislation of the Republic of 
Kazakhstan; 
22) the right to subsurface use is the right to possess and use subsurface acquired by a subsurface 
user in accordance with this Law; 
23) objects, related to the right to subsurface use are the participating interests (blocks of shares) 
in a legal entity holding the right to subsurface use, as well as in a legal entity that has an 
opportunity to determine directly and (or) indirectly, and (or) influence on decisions, adopted by 
such subsurface user unless the principal activity of that legal entity is related to subsurface use in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Objects, related to the right to subsurface use shall also include securities confirming the title to shares or secu rities convertible into shares of a legal entity 
holding a the right to subsurface use as well as a legal entity that has an opportunity to determine 
directly and (or) indirectly, and (or) influence on  the decisions adopted by such subsurface user 
unless the principal activity of such legal entity is related to subsurface use in the Republic of 
Kazakhstan; 
24) the Commission for the holding of tenders for granting the right to subsurface use is a 
permanent collegial body established by the Gove rnme nt of the  R ep ub lic  of Kazakhs tan for the 
purposes of holding a competitive tender and determining its winner; 
25) the expert commission for subsurface use issues is an advisory and consultative body 
established by the competent body working out the proposals to the competent body on the issues 
specified in article 24 of this Law; 
26) feasibility study in the sphere of subsurface use is a document that contains the technological 
and economic parameters of a deposit developm ent project and the appraisal of the economic 
expediency of its implementation in obligatory recognition of the capacities and proposals of 
Kazakhstan producers of goods, works and services; 
27) a subsurface user is a natural person or a legal entity that, in accordance with this Law, has 
the right to the conducting subsurface use operations; 
28) rational and comprehensive use of subsurface is the cost-effective development of all types of 
subsurface resources based on the use of advanced technologies and good practices of deposit development; G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  29) State expertise of the subsurface is a complex expert examination of the information about 
mineral reserves as well as about other subsurface properties with a view to the possibility of their use in subsurface use and entering of the minerals on the State register; 
30) a portion of subsurface is a geometrized portion of subsurface that is allotted within closed 
boundaries for the conducting subsurface use operations; 
31) project documents are the documents substantiating and establishing technical conditions and 
engineering parameters of prospecting, appraisal and development of mineral deposits subject to 
the requirements of environmental, sanita ry-epidemiological and industrial safety; 
32) high technologies are new generally recognized achievements in technologies and 
technological processes that have been implemented in the form of new and upgraded products and maximum ecologically clean technologies used for the purpose of integration of products 
produced in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan into the world market; 
33) a work program is the document containing the obligations of the subsurface user for the 
investment project performance within the term of the contract; 
34) local content in works (services) – the share of the total annual amount of payments (costs) 
under all works (services) procurement contracts which were paid to Kazakhstan's producers of works (services) for performing works (rendering services), excluding any amount that has been 
paid for works (rendering services) on the basis of subcontracting agreement at any level to 
organizations which are not Kazakhstan's producers of works (services); 
35) works is the performance on a paid basis of ac tivities on the creation (production) of goods, 
assembly of equipment, construction of structures and other facilities, that are required for both 
their direct use in the conducting subsurface use operations and for activities that were stipulated 
in the contract as related activities;  
36) is excluded by the Law dated 27.10.2015 No. 365-V (is enforced upon expiration of ten 
calendar days after its first official publication); 
37) local content in personnel is a number of Kazakhstan's personnel in percentage to the total 
number of personnel engaged in the performanc e of a contract, with a breakdown by each 
category of workers and employees; 
37-1) professional rescue services and formations - services and (or) organizations that provide 
constant, 24 hours servicing of subsurface users, who have hazardous industrial facilities, performing immediate departure of their units to ca rry out rescue operations in the serviced sites, 
as well as work on localization and liquidation of accidents and their effects;  
38) a contract is an agreement between the compet ent body or the authorized body for the study 
and use of subsurface, or by a local executive body of a region, a city of the republican 
significance, the capital city, in accordance with its competence established by the legislation of 
the Republic of Kazakhstan, and a natural person and (or) a legal entity for the performance of 
exploration, production, combined exploration and production of minerals, or construction and (or) 
operation of underground facilities not related to exploration and (or) production, or for the State 
geological exploration of subsurface; 
39) a contract area is the area defined by a geological or mining allotment in that the subsurface 
user shall have the right to perform the subsurface use operations in accordance with the contract; 
40) the concentration of rights within the framework of a contract is the size of the interest of one 
of the joint holders of the right to subsurface use in a contract entered into with the Republic of Kazakhstan, that allows such a participant to determine decisions on the activities of a subsurface 
user in accordance with the contract; 
41) a deposit is a portion of subsurface containing the natural concentration of a mineral 
(minerals), reserves of which were counted and (or) evaluated as a result of exploration; G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  42) a technological scheme of deposit developm ent is a project document executing for the 
purpose of commissioning of a deposit and provid ing for engineering solutions and indices of the 
deposit development, a methodology of the analys is of the system of development in order to 
determine the basic parameters of oil reservoirs, cr iteria for a rational system of the development 
of production facilities; 
43) analysis of deposit development is a complex study of the results of the geologic production, 
geophysical, hydrodynamic and other studies of  wells and reservoirs in the process of the 
development of a production facility, as well as  of the dynamics of the development indices, in 
order to determine the current location of oil and gas reserves and the processes running in productive reservoirs, with the development of  recommendations, on this basis, concerning 
regulation of the elaboration for the purposes of optimization of production and increasing of the 
oil recovery factor; 
44) a commercial development project is a project document determining technical solutions 
ensuring the specified productivity and other processing operations associated with production, 
and regulates the method of production of minera ls from a relevant deposit, the parameters of 
mineral recovery from subsurface; 
45) a pilot production from a deposit are the oper ations performed in deposits of hydrocarbon raw 
materials for the purpose of defining of the av ailable information and obtaining the additional 
information about the geologic production characteristics of reservoirs and deposits, complex geological-geophysical and hydrodynamic survey of wells in order to work out a technological 
scheme and a commercial development project. Th e pilot production provides for temporary 
operation of exploration wells; 
46) a good practice of deposit development is the generally accepted international practice used in 
conducting of the subsurface use operations, that is rational, safe, requir ed and cost effective; 
47) a commercial deposit development is the entire complex of work (operations) aimed at the 
recovery of approved mineral reserves from subsurface, subject to their rational and comprehensive use; 
48) widespread mineral deposits are sand, mud, gravel and other minerals, used in their natural 
State or after insignificant processing and purification, generally in order to satisfy local economic needs; 
49) tender commission for granting the right to subsurface use to conduct exploration or 
production of widespread mineral deposits is a permanent collegial body formed by a local 
executive body of a region, a city of republican significance, the capital, in order to conduct a 
tender and to determine its winner; 
50) expert commission for subsurface use on the issues related to exploration or production of 
widespread mineral deposits means an advisory an d consultative body formed by a local executive 
body of a region, a city of republican significan ce, the capital, working out the expert commission 
for subsurface use on the issues related to exploration or production of widespread mineral 
deposits means an advisory and consultative body formed by a local executive body of a region, a 
city of republican significance, the capital, working out the proposals on the issues set out in article 24 of this Law; 
51) interregional commission for exploration and development of widespread mineral deposits 
(hereinafter referred to as the interregional commission) is a collegial body of territorial subdivision of the authorized body for study and us e of the subsurface for consideration of project 
documents, on prospecting, appraisal and development of the deposits of widespread minerals; 
52) the production of widespread mineral deposits is any production of widespread mineral 
deposits other than production of widespre ad mineral deposits for one's own needs; 
53) the production of widespread mineral deposits and ground water for one's own needs is the 
production, performed on a land plot being owned or  on the right of land use without the intention G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  to subsequent execution of transactions with rega rd to produced widespread mineral deposits or 
ground water; 
54) a commercial discovery is a discovery resulting from exploration in the contract area of one or 
more deposits of commercial interest, confirmed by  the State expert expertise of the subsurface; 
54-1) tender - the tender or auction to determine the winner, who has the right to conclude the 
contract for subsurface use; 
55) services is the performance on a paid basis, of  an activity, required both for direct use in the 
conducting subsurface use operations and for activities stipulated in the contract as ancillary 
activities and not intended to the creation (production) of goods or other tangible things; 
56) portions of subsurface having complex geological structure are portions of subsurface 
characterized by one of the following parameters: intense tectonic disruptions; intense folding of 
rocks containing proposed mass of minerals; deep  bedding – more than five hundred meters for 
solid minerals and more than three thousand meters on the top of prospective horizon for hydrocarbons; located within areas of seas; 
57) deposits having complex geological structure are deposits, in which more than seventy per 
cent of the reserves are characterized by variability of thickness or disrupted bedding of mass of minerals or inconsistent quality of minerals and random distribution of primary valuable 
components, or heterogeneity of reservoir or rese rvoir properties of productive formations, or 
anomalously high formational pressure; 
58) goods of Kazakhstan origin are goods for which a certificate of origin is issued for internal 
circulation confirming its origin in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan; 
59) Kazakhstan's producer of goods –the citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan and (or) legal 
entities of the Republic of Kazakhstan producing goods of Kazakhstan origin; 
60) a discoverer of a deposit of the Republic of Kazakhstan is a person that has discovered a 
previously unknown deposit having commercial valu e and revealed additional mineral reserves or 
new mineral raw materials in a formerly known deposit that significantly increased its commercial value; 
60-1) financial liabilities - obligations of the subsurface user in monetary terms, provided for by 
the contract for subsurface use; 
60-2) solid minerals - natural mineral formations, except for commonly occurring minerals and 
hydrocarbon raw materials contained in the subsurface in the solid State; 
61) a signature bonus is a one-time fixed payment of a subsurface user for the acquisition of the 
right to use subsurface within the contract area; 
62) the competent body is the central executive body which, on behalf of the Republic of 
Kazakhstan, exercises the rights related to th e execution and performance of contracts for 
exploration, production, combined exploration and production, except for contracts for exploration, production of widespread mineral deposits, spec ified by the Government of the Republic of 
Kazakhstan, unless as otherwise set forth by the laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan and acts of 
the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan; 
63) the main pipeline is a universal engineering and technological complex, consisting of a linear 
part and objects, ensuring safe transportation of production, which compiles with the technical 
regulations and national standards; 
64) is excluded by the Law of the Republic of  Kazakhstan dated 22.06.2012 No. 21-V (shall be 
enforced upon expiry of ten calendar da ys after its first official publication); 
65) is excluded by the Law of the Republic of  Kazakhstan dated 22.06.2012 No. 21-V (shall be 
enforced upon expiry of ten calendar da ys after its first official publication); G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  66) the priority right of the State is the right of the State to first acquisition of the alienated right 
to subsurface use (its part) and (or) objects, related to the right of subsurface use; 
67) Interdepartmental commission for exercising th e State's priority right is an advisory-and-
consultative body established by the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan for the purposes 
of consideration of the issues and development of recommendations concerning the acquisition 
(or waiver of acquisition) by the State of the alienated right to subsurface use (its part) and (or) objects related to the rights to subsurface use in the Republic of Kazakhstan; 
68) mineral raw materials are the portion of subsurface (rocks, ore raw materials, etc.) extracted 
to the surface which contains a mineral (minerals); 
69) primary processing (enrichment) of mineral raw materials is a type of mining activity 
comprises of the collection at the site, crushing or crumbling, classification (sorting), bricketing, 
agglomeration and enrichment using physical and chemical methods (without substantial changes 
of the mineral form of minerals, their aggregativ e-phase State, crystallochemical structure) and 
also may include processing technologies which are special types of the activities for production of 
minerals (underground gasification and melting,  chemical and bacterial leaching, dredging and 
hydraulic development of placer deposits). 
A list of operations related to the primary processing (enrichment) of mineral raw materials shall 
be specified in each subsurface use contract, except for subsurface use contracts which have been 
concluded prior to the effective date of this Law and amendments to such contracts; 
70) processing of mineral raw materials is the work, following the primary processing of mineral 
raw materials and related to the recovery of a mineral (minerals) from mineral raw materials; 
71) a model contract is a standard contract, approved by the Government of the Republic of 
Kazakhstan, which reflects the peculiarities of certain types of contracts, the performance of certain subsurface use operations, and which is used as a basis in drafting of contract projects; 
72) petroleum is crude oil, gas condensate, natural gas and associated gas, as well as any 
hydrocarbons produced after refining of crude oil or  natural gas, or after processing of shale oil or 
tarry sand; 
73) oil and gas pipelines are the pipelines designat ed for transportation of petroleum, including 
main pipelines, pipelines operating in the gathering main mode, as well as equipment and machinery for treatment, separation and liquefaction of substances transported through a pipeline system or through its separate parts, control and insulation systems, electrochemical protection 
systems, and other equipment designated for servicing such pipelines; 
74) construction and (or) operation of oil and gas pipelines is any work (operations) performed for 
the purposes of building, laying and operating oil and gas pipelines on land, rivers, lakes, seas or 
in any other inland water bodies; 
75) associated components in petroleum are minerals and combinations of various types contained 
in petroleum and in stratal waters and technologically requiring their extraction; 
75-1) operator of the informational system of oil accounting - a legal entity, fifty and more percent 
of voting shares (participation shares) of which belong to the State under the jurisdiction of the 
authorized body in the field of oil and gas, ensu ring the functioning of the information system of 
accounting of oil. 
75-2) Informational system of oil accounting - a system containing information on production 
volumes, production, preparation, processing, tr ansportation, storage, sale, shipment, loss of 
importation into the territory of the Republic of Ka zakhstan and export of oil from the territory of 
the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as software and hardware, providing the collection, processing, 
storage and use of such information; 
75-3) Oil spill on the sea - marine pollution by oil in the implementation of offshore petroleum 
operations, transportation and (or) storage of oil; G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  76) petroleum operations are any operations related to exploration, production of petroleum, 
construction and (or) operation of necessary technological and associated objects; 
76-1) subjects operating in the field of oil produc tion and trafficking, - natural and legal persons 
operating in the sphere of production, manufactu ring, preparation, processing, transportation, 
storage, sale, shipment, import to the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan and export oil from 
the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan; 
76-2) the physical volume of obligations - obliga tions of the subsurface user on the type and 
volume of works envisaged by the work program; 
77) a principal mineral - is the mineral determining the commercial value of a deposit, having the 
highest content in the feed stock or the highest specific weight in the production of the deposit and defining the basic direction in the use of the production of the deposit; 
78) an operator - is a legal entity, which is created or specified by subsurface users in accordance 
with the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan by a written notice of the competent body, performing operative management of the activities and accounting and reporting operations 
related to the performance of the contract, for the activities of which the subsurface users shall 
bear property liability; 
79) production - is the entire set of works (operations) related to the extraction of minerals from 
the subsurface to the surface, as well as from technogenic mineral formations, which are State 
properties, including primary processing and temporary storage of mineral raw materials; 
79-1) spending on social and economic development of the region and its infrastructure - the cost 
of subsoil user in the development and maintenance of social infrastructure in the region, as well 
as funds transferred to them for these purposes to the State budget; 
80) a mineral is a natural mineral formations contained in the subsurface, hydrocarbons and 
ground water, the chemical composition and physical properties of which make it possible to use 
them in material production and (or) consumption, and (or) for other needs, either directly or after 
their processing; 
81) the central commission for exploration and deve lopment of minerals (hereinafter referred to as 
the central commission) - is the collegial body established by the competent body for consideration 
of the project documents related to prospectin g, appraisal and development of deposits of 
minerals, except for widespread mineral deposits; 
82) a safety zone means a zone extending five kilometers from the sea coastline towards the land 
in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan; 
83) easement - is the right of natural persons and le gal entities to the restricted designated use of 
a part of a portion of subsurface allocated to other persons in order to conduct exploration, 
production or construction and (or) operation of underground facilities not related to exploration or 
production, to the extent, stipulated by this Law; 
84) a strategic partner is a Kazakhstan or a foreign legal entity (their associations) determined by 
the national company and in coordination with the competent body for joint implementation of 
projects under contracts concluded on the results of direct negotiations between the national company and the competent body or in accordance with international treaties ratified by the Republic of Kazakhstan; 
85) is excluded by the Law of the Republic of  Kazakhstan dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be 
enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days  after its first official publication);  
86) strategic mineral raw materials are the mineral raw materials having strategic importance for 
the sustainable development of the Republic of Kazakhstan; 
87) a test production project is a document which is drawn up for the works on production of 
hydrocarbons for the purpose of verifying the available information and obtaining additional G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  information about the geologic production characteristics of formations and accumulations, 
complex geological-geophysical and hydrodynamic survey of wells in order to work out a technological scheme and a project of industrial development of a deposit; 
88) natural gas – is the hydrocarbons, being in a gaseous State under normal atmospheric 
temperature and pressure, including wet gas, dry gas, associated gas remaining after the 
extraction or separation of liquid hydrocarbons  from wet gas, and non-hydrocarbon gas produced 
together with liquid or gaseous hydrocarbons; 
89) utilization of natural and associated gas - is the provision with industrial collection of natural 
and associated gas from a deposit for the purposes of its utilization for technological needs and (or) its treatment for a commercial product; 
90) an abandonment fund - the money accumulated by the subsurface user in a special deposit 
account in any bank in the Republic of Kazakhstan, to eliminate the effects of subsurface 
operations in the Republic of Kazakhstan; 
91) historical costs - are the aggregate past costs for the geological study of a contract area and 
for the exploration of deposits, incurred by the State, the geological information about which has 
been transferred into the ownership of the State; 
92) local content in goods - is the percentage of the cost of used local materials and the costs 
incurred by the producer of goods for the processi ng of goods performed in the territory of the 
Republic of Kazakhstan, in the final cost of goods; 
93) goods - are equipment, finished products and other material and technical valuables, acquired 
both for direct use in the conducting subsurface use operations and for the activities, provided by 
the contract as ancillary activities; 
94) the annual program for the procurement of goods, works and services - is a document 
prepared by a subsurface user and determining the nomenclature and the scopes of goods, works 
and services, methods and timing of their purchase, which are planned by the subsurface user for 
the period of one calendar year; 
95) a medium term program for the procurement of goods, works and services - is a document, 
prepared by a subsurface user and determining th e nomenclature and quantities of goods, works 
and services, methods and timing of their purchase  which are planned by the subsurface user for a 
period of up to three years; 
96) a long term program for the procurement of goods, works and services - is a document, 
prepared by a subsurface user and determining th e nomenclature and quantities of goods, works 
and services, methods and timing of their purchase  which are planned by the subsurface user for a 
period of up to ten years or for a pe riod up to the expiry of a contract; 
97) mining allotment – is a document, which is an integral part of the contract on the production, 
combined exploration and production, graphic and narrative defining the area of mineral resources on which the subsurface user has the right to conduct mining, construction and (or) the operation 
of underground facilities not related to exploration and (or) mining; 
98) pilot development – is the exploitation of deposits, or accumulations of hydrocarbon raw 
materials for the purposes of testing of new or previously known techniques requiring approbation 
in geological and physical conditions of the deposit in order to obtain additional data; 
99) pilot development project – is a project document, being executed to works for the extraction 
of hydrocarbon raw materials and stipulating the commissioning of deposits and (or) accumulations after the testing of new or previously known techniques that require approbation in 
geological and physical conditions of the de posit in order to obtain additional data; 
100) research and industrial production - mining op erations carried out at the stage of evaluation 
of the detected deposit in order to obtain more information about the properties of minerals and 
the types of ores, mining and geological conditions of extraction of mineral resources and G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  processing technology, the selection of mining equipment and the method of operation of the 
deposit.  
101) project of a research and industrial producti on - the project document, drawn up for carrying 
out research and industrial production of solid mi nerals and establishing a methodology, the types 
and volumes of geological exploratory, mining an d extracting works, including primary processing 
of mineral raw materials, necessary and sufficient for completion of the survey and preparation of 
the project of industrial development of the deposit; 
101-1) Tender - a procedure for determining the winner of the number of participants submitting 
bids; 
102) the sea is the surface of water and the layer of water as well as the bottom of the Caspian 
sea and the Aral sea within the boundaries of the Kazakhstan part of the Caspian and Aral seas; 
103) a marine scientific research is a scientific research works performed in order to study the 
influence of subsurface use operations at sea an d their impacts on the environment and biological 
diversity; 
104) marine conservation zones or conservation zones - are zones specified by the Government of 
the Republic of Kazakhstan and established around offshore facilities in order to secure human safety and the safety of the biological resource s of the sea, of the environment as well as 
navigation, fishery and other activities of natural persons and legal entities at sea in accordance 
with the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan; 
105) marine pollution is the entry of materials, substances, energy, noises, vibrations into the 
marine environment, as well as the formation of  various types of radiations and deposits that 
cause harm or create a threat of causing harm to the human health, living marine resources or 
marine ecosystem, or disturbing, or inflicting losses, or capable to inflict losses on natural persons or legal entities performing lawful activities at sea or on its shores; 
106) marine facilities are artificially created facilities in the se a, including artificial islands, dams, 
constructions, and fixed and floating equipment for conducting offshore petroleum operations at sea; 
107) technogenic mineral formations are the accumu lations of mineral formations, mass of rocks, 
liquids and mixtures containing useful components being the waste product of mining, enrichment, metallurgical and other types of production; 
108) technogenic water is water, the removal of which is required for the performance of 
technological processes in conducting subsurface use operations; 
109) a uniform methodology of the calculation by or ganizations of local content in the procurement 
of goods, works and services is the procedure ap proved by the authorized body in the field of 
State support for industrial innovation procedure used to calculate the local content in the 
procurement of goods, works and services; 
110) border deposit – is the deposit, located within  the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan or 
the sea, a part of which is also located in the territory or at sea, under the jurisdiction of another 
adjacent or opposite State; 
111) Crude oil – is any hydrocarbons, regardless of their weight, extracted from the subsurface in 
the liquid State at normal atmospheric temperature and pressure, formed from natural gas 
through natural condensation; 
112) prospecting works – is a stage of explorat ion works performed in order to identify and 
delineate prospective sites and occurrence of minerals, determination of inferred resources, their 
preliminary geological-economic appraisal and justification for further exploration; 
113) project prospecting works – is a project document, compiled during exploration, which 
determines the method and the scope of exploration ensuring effective and comprehensive study G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  of portion of subsurface covering the entire territory of the portion of subsurface, in order to 
identify and delineate prospective sites and occurrence of minerals, determination of inferred resources, their preliminary geological-economic appraisal and justification for further exploration. A project of prospecting works reflects the amounts of financing of the prospecting works by 
years; 
114) associated gas is hydrocarbon gas that is a part of petroleum composition in oil, oil and gas 
and gas deposits in a dissolved State and evolving  from petroleum when the pressure decreases, 
as well as non-hydrocarbon gases produced to gether with liquid or gaseous hydrocarbons; 
115) processing of associated gas - is a set of measures to bring up associated gas to a 
commercial product; 
116) flaring of associated and (or) natural gas - is the process of elimination of associated and (or) 
natural gas without utilization; 
117) associated minerals - are mineral complexes, minerals, metals and other chemical elements 
and their compounds associated and produced together with the principal mineral, the production 
and processing of which in the development of the principal mineral are cost-effective and the 
practical use of which is economically expedient; 
118) inland water bodies - are lakes, artificial water reservoirs and other surface water bodies; 
119) e-procurement system - is an electronic info rmation system used by a procurement organizer 
(subsurface user or persons authorized by subsurfa ce users) for the purchase of goods, works and 
services, created and operated in accordance with  the procedure for the purchase of goods, works 
and services in conducting subsurface use operat ions approved by the authorized body in the 
sphere of State support of industrial innovation, to gether with the authorized body in the field of 
oil and gas.  
Article 2. The legislation of the Republic of  Kazakhstan on subsurface and subsurface 
use 
1. The legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan on subsurface and subsurface use is based on the 
Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan and consists of this Law and other laws and regulations 
of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
2. The civil law relations related to the right to subsurface use shall be regulated by the norms of 
the civil legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan, unless they are regulated by the provisions of this Law. 
3. If an international treaty ratified by the Repu blic of Kazakhstan establishes rules, other than 
those provided in this Law, the rules of an international treaty shall be applied. 
Article 3. Sphere of application of this Law 
1. This Law shall regulate the relations arising in the conduct of subsurface use operations. 
2. Relations with regard to the use and protecti on of land, water (except for ground water and 
therapeutic muds), forests, flora and fauna, and atmospheric air shall be regulated by special 
legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
3. Foreign persons and foreign legal entities as well as Stateless persons shall enjoy rights and 
incur obligations concerning the subsurface use relations on an equal basis with the citizens and legal entities of the Republic of Kazakhstan, unl ess as otherwise provided by the laws of the 
Republic of Kazakhstan. G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  Article 4. Aims and objectives of the legi slation of the Republic of Kazakhstan on 
subsurface and subsurface use  
1. The aims of legislation of the Republic of Kaza khstan on subsurface and subsurface use shall be 
the provision of the economic grow th and the protection of interest s of the Republic of Kazakhstan 
and its natural resources. 
2. The objectives of legislation of the Republic of  Kazakhstan on subsurface and subsurface use are 
as follows: 
1) the implementation of the State policy in the sphere of subsurface use; 
2) the regulation of relations in conduct of subsurface use operations; 3) the provision of the balance of the republican and regional interests;  
4) the provision of mineral replacement; 
5) the provision of legal basis in the conduct of subsurface use operations; 
6) the creation of favorable conditions in order to attract investments to the conduct of subsurface 
use operations. 
Article 5. Principles of the le gislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan on subsurface and 
subsurface use  
Legal regulation of relations related to the subs urface and subsurface use shall be based on the 
following principles: 
1) the provision of rational, comprehensive and safe subsurface use; 2) the provision of the protection of subsurface and environment;  3) the publicity in the conduct of subsurface use operations; 
4) the serviceability of subsurface use. 
Article 6. The provision of rational, comprehensive and safe subsurface use  
An obligatory condition for the conducting subsurface use operations shall be cost effective 
development of all kinds of subsurface resources on the basis of the use of high technologies and 
good practice of deposit development and the prov ision of safety of peop le's life and health. 
Article 7. The provision of the protec tion of subsurface and environment  
An obligatory condition for exercising the right to subsurface use is the provision of prevention of 
subsurface contamination and reduction of the harm ful impact of subsurface use operations on the 
environment. 
Article 8. The publicity in the conduct of subsurface use operations  
The submission of the information, concerning the conduct of subsurface use operations and 
contract terms shall be performed in accordance with this Law. 
All interested parties shall have the right to familiarize themselves in a competent body, a local 
executive body of a region, a city of republican  significance, the capital with the following: 
1) conditions of a tender for granting the right to subsurface use and the content of the decision 
on its results; G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  2) fulfillment of the conditions of a tender on the concluded contracts. 
Transfer of the information, which is recognized by the parties as confidential, to the State bodies, 
the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and local representative bodies, shall not be treated as the violation of confidentiality.   
Article 8-1. Taking into account interest s of subsurface users in decision-making
2 
The authorized representatives of the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of the Republic of 
Kazakhstan are entitled on a permanent basis to participate (with a voting right) in the work of 
advisory-collegiate bodies on the issues of subsurface use. 
Article 9. The serviceability of the subsurface use  
Relations in the sphere of subsurface use shall be based on a paid basis except for the cases 
established by this Law. 
Article 10. The right to the ownership of th e subsurface, minerals, technogenic mineral 
formations and mineral raw materials3 
1. In accordance with the Constitution of the Re public of Kazakhstan, the subsurface and minerals 
contained therein is the property of the State. 
The State ownership of the subsurface is one of th e constituting bases of the State sovereignty of 
the Republic of Kazakhstan. The State shall provide the access to the subsurface on the grounds, 
conditions and to the extent stipulated by this Law. 
2. Unless as otherwise provided by this Law and a contract, mineral raw materials shall be owned 
by the subsurface user on the right of ownership (for a State-owned enterprise of the Republic of 
Kazakhstan - on the right of economic management or operational management). 
3. Anthropogenic mineral formations, stockpiled until May 30, 1992 and included in the State Fund 
of mineral resources, and minerals contained in  the anthropogenic mineral formations, impounded 
after 30 May 1992 in the amount, which is not paid tax on mineral extraction and (or) royalties 
which are State property. 
4. Anthropogenic mineral formations, formed from mineral raw materials imported from outside of 
the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as impounded after 30 May 1992 with the contained minerals 
in the amount on which tax is paid on mineral extraction and (or) royalties are property of the 
subsurface user. 
5. Processing or other use of anthropogenic mine ral formations, owned by the State, is based on 
the contract concluded with the competent authority or the local executive bodies of oblasts, cities 
of republican significance, the capital, in the manner provided for in Chapter 9-1 of this Act. 
The ownership of the minerals extracted from anthropogenic mineral formations, owned by the 
State, determined by the contract. 
6. A subsurface user, that has the ownership of mineral raw materials, technogenic mineral 
formations or minerals shall have the right to dispose of mineral raw materials, technogenic mineral formations or minerals, perform in respect of them any civil law transactions not 
prohibited by the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
It is prohibited to place other waste in storage sites of anthropogenic mineral formations, except 
when related to the closure of landfills technogenic mineral formations and their reclamation. 
                                               
2 The Law is added by Article 8-1 in accordance with the Law dated 04.07.2013 No. 130-V (shall be 
enforced upon expiry of ten calendar da ys after its first official publication). 
3 Article 10 is amended by Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten 
calendar days after its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  7. Implementation of by the subsurface user of  production associated minerals contained in 
mineral raw materials, the extraction of minerals, under the terms of the contract are recognized as part of the mining contract. 
Article 11. Ownership of geological info rmation, the procedure for the use and 
transmission
4, 5 
1. Geological information shall be the State property to the extent that it is obtained at the 
expense of the budgetary funds of the Republic of Kazakhstan and it shall be the property of the 
subsurface user to the extent that it is obtained at the expense of the subsurface user's own 
funds. 
2. Notwithstanding the source of financing, geol ogical and other information about the subsurface 
shall be subject to a mandatory free of charge  transfer for storage, systematization and 
summarizing to the authorized body for the study and the use of subsurface in accordance with 
the procedure approved by the authorized body. 
3. Geological information shall be provid ed on a paid or free of charge basis. 
Geological information shall be provided on a free of charge basis: 
- to persons conducting works related to the geological studies of subsurface at the 
expense of the State budget funds; 
- for scientific purposes to the extent, where scientific research is financed from the 
State budget and (or) means of national companies or their subsidiaries, which are the subjects of scientific and (or) scientific and technical activities; 
- for educational purposes - to State and accredited private educational institutions for 
educational purposes; 
- to State bodies; - national companies, carrying out State geological studies at their own expense for the 
State geological task. 
Except as otherwise stipulated by this paragraph, information about the subsurface shall be 
provided on a paid basis. Notwithstanding the conditions of the provision of information about the 
subsurface, the costs of its copying shall be compensated by the recipient of information 
separately. 
The rules for the use of State-owned geological information for educational, scientific and 
commercial purposes as well as exporting geological information from the territory of the Republic 
of Kazakhstan shall be approved by the authoriz ed body for the study and utilization of mineral 
resources. 
3-1. Geological information on subsurface plots, free from subsurface use, provided for reference 
on the basis of the request of the person concerne d, subject to the requirements of the legislation 
on State secrets of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
4. The cost of the State-owned geological informatio n shall be specified as a part of the amount of 
historical costs. The payment of the cost of geolog ical information shall be made to the budget of 
the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
                                               
4 Title of Article 11 in the text of the Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of 
ten calendar days after its first official publication). 
5 Article 11 with amendments introduced by Law dated 29.09.2014 No.239-V (shall be enforced upon 
expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication); dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  The procedure for appraisal of historical costs and the cost of geological information shall be 
approved by the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
5. Was removed by Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten 
calendar days after its first official publication). 
6. Geological information on subsurface areas provided a simplified procedure for the 
investigation, should be divided into blocks. 
Article 12. Pre-emptive and priority right of the State in the sphere of subsurface use6 
1 .  T h e  R e p u b l i c  o f  K a z a k h s t a n  s h a l l  h a v e  t h e pre-emptive right over other persons for the 
acquisition of subsurface user's minerals at the prices not exceeding the prices, applied by the subsurface user in the execution of transactions wi th the relevant minerals established on the date 
of execution of the transaction, less transportation and sales costs. 
To the extent that there is no information about the prices of minerals applied by the subsurface 
user in the execution of the transactions, the prices which do not exceed those established in the world markets on the date of execution of the tr ansaction on the acquisition of minerals by the 
State shall apply. 
The maximum amount of minerals to be acquired and the mode of payment shall be specified by 
the contract. The procedure for exercising the pre- emptive right of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 
the acquisition of minerals shall be determined by the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
2. In order to preserve and strengthen the resource and energy basis of the country's economy, 
the newly and previously executed contracts for subsurface use, except for contracts on ground water and widespread mineral deposits, the State shall have the priority right over other party to 
the contract or participants of the legal entity holding the right to subsurface use and other 
persons for the acquisition of the right to subsurface  use (its part) to be alienated, whether with or 
without charge and (or) objects related to the ri ght to subsurface use. The provisions of this 
paragraph shall not apply to the cases provided  by paragraph 5 of Article 36 of this Law. 
Article 13. The procedure of exercisi ng the priority right of the State
7 
1. To the extent that a person holding a the right to subsurface use and (or) an object related to 
the right to subsurface use intends to alienate the right to subsurface use (its part) and (or) an 
object related to the right to subsurface use, the State shall, through the national management holding, national company or authorized State body, have the priority right to acquire the right to subsurface use (its part) and (or) an object  related to the right to subsurface use. 
The decision on behalf of the Government of th e Republic of Kazakhstan on acquisition by a 
national management holding, or a national company of the right to subsurface use to be alienated (its part) and (or) and an object, related to the right to subsurface use, shall be made by the 
national managing holding, national company esta blished by the Government of the Republic of 
Kazakhstan. 
D e c i s i o n  o n  b e h a l f  o f  t h e  G o v e r n m e n t  o f  K a z a k h s t a n  t o  a c q u i r e  b y  t h e  n a t i o n a l  m a n a g e m e n t  
holding company or national company the alienated right of subsurface use (or part thereof) and 
(or) objects related to the right of subsurface use shall be taken by the competent authority in the prescribed manner, in accordance with the separation of activities approved by the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
2. Unless as otherwise established by this Law, th e entity that intends to alienate the right to 
subsurface use (its part) and (or) an object related to the right to subsurface use shall file an 
                                               
6 Article 12 with amendments introduced by Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon 
expiry of ten calendar days afte r its first official publication). 
7 Article 13 with amendments introduced by Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon 
expiry of ten calendar days afte r its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  application for alienation of the right to subsurface use (its part) and (or) an object related to the 
right to subsurface use with the competent body. 
An application for alienation of the right to subsurface use (its part) and (or) an item related to the 
right to subsurface use shall be made in the Kazakh and Russian languages and shall contain the 
data established by paragraph 2 of Article 37 of this Law and is not subject to review or revise any 
of its submission to the competent authority within three months. 
3. The competent body shall within twenty work ing days from the receipt of the application, 
submit for consideration of the Interdepartmenta l commission for exercising the State's priority 
right the materials required for working out a proposal for acquisition (waiver of acquisition) by the State of the alienable right to subsurface use (its part) and (or) an object related to the right to subsurface use. 
4. The Interdepartmental commission for exercising the State's priority right within thirty working 
days upon the date of receipt of the relevant materials shall consider the application and other materials with regard to the requirements of the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the 
national security and shall work out the recommendations ion acquisition (waiver of acquisition) by 
the State of the alienable right to subsurface use (its part) and (or) an object, related to the right to subsurface use. 
To the extent of making recommendations by the Interdepartmental commission for exercising the 
State's priority right on the acquisition of the alienable right to subsurface use (its part) and (or) an object, related to the right to subsurface use by a national management holding or a national company, approved by the Government of the Repu blic of Kazakhstan, which have declared about 
the intention to execute such acquisition, the Interdepartmental commission on the 
implementation of the priority rights of th e State shall recommend the competent body to 
determine a national management holding or a na tional company as such acquirer approved by 
the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan on behalf of the State. 
To the extent of making recommendations by the Interdepartmental commission for exercising the 
State's priority right on the acquisition of the alienable right to subsurface use (its part) and (or) 
an object, related to the right to subsurface use under the conditions of the absence of intentions, 
on the part of a national management holding or a national company, on acquisition, the issue shall be submitted to consideration by the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, in order to determine the State body, to be authorized for the acquisition. 
5. The Interdepartmental commission for exercising th e State's priority right shall have the right to 
request and receive from the applicant and other persons any additional materials, required for 
making recommendations on acquisition (waiver of acquisition) of the alienable right to subsurface 
use (its part) and (or) an object, related to the right to subsurface use, including the documents 
concerning the financial and economic situation of the subsurface users, as well as legal entities, which have the opportunity directly or indirectly to determine decisions and (or) influence on the 
decisions made by a subsurface user. 
6. The recommendations worked out by the Inte rdepartmental commission for exercising the 
State's priority right concerning the acquisition (waiver of acquisition) of the alienable right to subsurface use (its part) and (or) an object related to the right to subsurface use shall be set forth 
in a protocol to be delivered to the competent body. 
7. The decision to acquire the alienable right to su bsurface use (its part) and (or) an object related 
to the right to subsurface use shall be delivered to the national management holding or the 
national company, or to the State body determ ined by the Government of the Republic of 
Kazakhstan authorized to do so. 
8. After the receipt of the decision of the co mpetent body to acquire the alienable right to 
subsurface use (its part) and (or) an object related to the right to subsurface use, the national 
management holding, the national company in accordance with the delineation of activities, approved by the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, or the authorized State body shall 
initiate negotiations with the subsurface user or the owner of the object related to the right to 
subsurface use. G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  The acquisition by the national management holding, the national company in accordance with the 
delineation of activities, approved by the Gove rnment of the Republic of Kazakhstan, or the 
authorized State body of the alienable right to subs urface use (its part) and (or) an object related 
to the right to subsurface use, shall be execut ed on the terms that are not worse than those 
proposed by other applicants. 
To the extent of alienation of a the right to subsurface use (its part) and (or) an object related to 
the right to subsurface use without charge and to the extent that the right to subsurface use 
(its part) and (or) an object related to the right to subsurface use is transferred to the charter 
capital of a legal entity, the acquisition of such objects shall be made at market value, determined in compliance with the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan on valuation activity. 
9. The period for the acquisition of the right to su bsurface use (its part) and (or) an object related 
to the right to subsurface use shall not exceed six months from the date of taking decision to 
acquire the right to subsurface use (a part thereof) and (or) the object related to the right to subsurface use. 
Article 14. Restriction and prohibition of subsurface use  
1. The use of separate portions of  subsurface may be restricted or prohibited by the decision of the 
Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan in order to ensure national security, population safety 
and protection of the environment. 
2. The use of the subsurface within the territory of inhabited areas, suburban areas, industrial, 
transportation and communication facilities may be fully or partially prohibited by a decision of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan unless such use may endanger human life and health 
or cause damage to commercial facilities or to the environment. 
3. The use of the subsurface within the territory  of specially protected natural areas shall be 
performed in compliance with the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan on specially protected 
natural areas. 
Article 14-1. Plots of mineral resourc es, deposits of strategic importance
8 
In order to ensure sustainable development of th e Republic of Kazakhstan and security of the 
country individual sections of the subsurface, deposits are recognized as strategic. 
The list of subsurface plots, deposits of strategic importance, as well as criteria for their 
designation as such are approved by the Go vernment of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
Article 15. Requisition of minerals  
1. In the event of announcing the State of emerge ncy or imposing martial law, the Government of 
the Republic of Kazakhstan shall have the right to requisition of a part or all of minerals owned by a subsurface user. The requisition may be performed in the quantities required for the needs of the 
Republic of Kazakhstan within the whole period of emergency State or martial law. The requisition 
of minerals may be performed from any subsurface  user notwithstanding the form of ownership. 
2. The Republic of Kazakhstan shall guarantee compensation for requisitioned minerals in kind or 
through payment of their value to a foreign subsurfa ce user in freely convertible currency, and to a 
national subsurface user – in the national currency at prices which shall not exceed the prices applied by the subsurface user in the performance of transactions with relevant minerals on the date of requisitioning, less transportation and sales costs. 
                                               
8 Chapter 1 is added by Article 14-1 by Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon expiry 
of ten calendar days after its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  Chapter 2. State regulation in the sphere of subsurface use  
Article 16. The competence of the Gove rnment of the Republic of Kazakhstan9 
The Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan shall: 1) organize the management of the State subsurface fund as an object of the State property; 
2) develop the main objectives of the State policy in subsurface use, strategic and tactical 
measures for its implementation; 
3) is removed by Law dated 29.09.2014 No. 239-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar 
days after its first official publication); 
4) determine the portions of subsurface and depo sits, intended for the satisfaction of the State 
needs in strategic types of mineral raw materials; 
5) establish subsurface use restrictions and proh ibitions for the purposes of ensuring national 
security, safety of the population and environmental protection; 
6) is removed by Law dated 29.09.2014 No. 239-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar 
days after its first official publication);  
7) approve the list of the portion of subsurface, deposits having strategic importance; 
8) is removed by Law dated 29.09.2014 No. 239-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar 
days after its first official publication); 
9) determine the procedure for granting the right to subsurface use, in accordance with 
international commitments of the Republic of Kazakhstan; 
10) is removed by Law dated 29.09.2014 No. 239-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar 
days after its first official publication); 
11) is removed by Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar 
days after its first official publication); 
12) is removed by Law dated 29.09.2014 No. 239-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar 
days after its first official publication); 
13) determine the competent body for execution and performance of subsurface use contracts for 
particular types of minerals, except for widespread mineral deposits, unless as otherwise 
established by the laws of the Republic of Kazakhst an and the acts of the President of the Republic 
of Kazakhstan; 
13-1) claims the distinction of activity of national companies in the sphere of subsurface use; 14) approve lists of geological, geomorphological  and hydrogeological objects of the State-owned 
natural preserve fund of republican and international significance and determine the procedure for 
their limited commercial use in specially protected natural areas, as well as approves lists of 
                                               
9 Article 16 as amended by the Laws of the Republ ic of Kazakhstan dated 09.01.2012 No. 535-IV (shall 
be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication); dated 22.06.2012 No. 21-V 
(shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days  after its first official publication); dated 10.07.2012 
No. 36-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten cale ndar days after its first official publication); 
dated 16.05.2014 No. 203-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication); dated 29.09.2014 No. 239-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after its first 
official publication); dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after 
its first official publication); dated 08.06.2015 No. 317-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
- 25 - 
 
  portions of subsurface representing special ecological, scientific, cultural and other value, 
recognized as the category of specially protecte d natural areas of the republican significance; 
15) - 18) are removed by Law dated 29.09.2014 No. 239-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten 
calendar days after its first official publication); 
19) is removed by Law dated 10.07.2012 No. 36-V (sha ll be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar 
days after its first official publication); 
20) is removed by Law dated 29.09.2014 No. 239-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar 
days after its first official publication); 
21) is removed by Law dated 29.09.2014 No. 239-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar 
days after its first official publication);  
22) regulate export of petroleum including by approval (change) of customs, protective, 
anti-dumping and countervailing duties, quotas for petroleum export and; 
23) establish quantitative restrictions (quotas) for petroleum transportation by different modes of 
transport; 
24) - 27) are removed by Law dated 29.09.2014 No. 239-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten 
calendar days after its first official publication);  
28) determine the procedure for exercising the pre- emptive right of the Repu blic of Kazakhstan for 
acquisition of minerals; 
29) - 49) are removed by Law dated 29.09.2014 No. 239-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten 
calendar days after its first official publication); 
50) is removed by Law dated 22.06.2012 No. 21-V (sha ll be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar 
days after its first official publication); 
51) - 57) are removed by Law dated 29.09.2014 No. 239-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten 
calendar days after its first official publication); 
58) is removed by Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar 
days after its first official publication); 
59) - 61) are removed by Law dated 29.09.2014 No. 239-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten 
calendar days after its first official publication);  
61-1) approves the forms and terms of report ing on implementation of the programme of 
development of processing of associated gas; 
62) is excluded by the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 09.01.2012 No. 535-IV (shall be 
enforced upon expiry of ten calendar da ys after its first official publication); 
63) perform other functions prescribed to it by the Constitution, this Law and other laws of the 
Republic of Kazakhstan and acts of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
- 26 - 
 
  Article 17. Powers of the competent body10 
The powers of the competent body shall include:  1) the approval of the regulations governin g the central commission for exploration and 
development of minerals and the approval of the composition of such commission; 
2) preparation and organization of a tender for granting the right to subsurface use for conducting 
exploration, production of minerals, combined ex ploration and production of minerals, except for 
widespread mineral deposits; 
3) provision of the right to subsurface use for conducting exploration, production, combined 
exploration and production of minerals, except for widespread mineral deposits; 
3-1) giving notice with application of materials (g eographical coordinates of points) of the deposit, 
which is provided on the right of subsurface use, the local executive bodies of oblasts, cities of 
republican significance, the capital of the need to  reserve land in accordance with Article 49-2 of 
the Land Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
4) negotiating with the person with whom the contract is awarded on the basis of direct 
negotiations, or the winner of the terms of the contract for exploration, production, combined 
exploration and production, with the exception of the contract for exploration, production of commonly occurring minerals; 
5) organization of the performance of expert ex amination of project documents for exploration, 
production, combined exploration and production, except for projects of contract documents for the exploration, production of widespread mineral deposits; 
6) organization of the performance of the expertis e of the projects of contracts for subsurface use 
concerning the determination of a list of works related to the primary processing (enrichment) of 
raw materials in order to secure the economic interests of the Republic of Kazakhstan, under the rules established by the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan; 
7) concluding, State registration and storage of co ntracts, except for contracts for the exploration, 
production of widespread mineral deposits, for th e State geological exploration of subsurface and 
for the construction and (or) operation of underground facilities not related to exploration and 
production; 
8) representation and enforcement of interests of the Republic of Kazakhstan in contracts for the 
exploration, production, combined exploration and production, except for contracts for the exploration, production of widespread mineral depo sits, in accordance with the powers established 
by the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan; 
9) exercising control over the performance of the terms of contracts by subsurface users, except 
for the contracts on exploration and production of widespread mineral deposits, for the State 
geological exploration of subsurface and for the construction and (or) operation of underground 
facilities not related to exploration and production; 
10) adoption of decisions, on the basis of re commendations of the Interdepartmental commission 
for exercising the State's priority right, on the acquisition (waiver of acquisition) of alienable right 
to subsurface use (a part thereof) and (or) items related to the right to subsurface use; 
                                               
10 Article 17 as amended by the Laws of the Republic  of Kazakhstan dated 09.01.2012 No. 535-IV (shall 
be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication); dated 10.07.2012 No. 36-V 
(shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication), dated 04.07.2013 No. 130-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calend ar days after its first official publication); dated 
29.09.2014 No. 239-V(shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication); 
dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
- 27 - 
 
  11) issuance, on the basis of proposals by the expert commission for subsurface use issues, of a 
permission (refusals to issue such permission) to alienate the right to subsurface use (its part) and (or) objects, related to the right to subsurface  use, to transfer the pledge of the right to 
subsurface use (its part) and (or) a participating interest (block of shares) in a legal entity having 
the right to subsurface use, as well as registration  of the transaction on transfer of the pledge of 
the right to subsurface use in accordance with Ar ticles 36 and 37 of this Law, except for the right 
to subsurface use with respect to widespread mineral deposits; 
12) ensure the performance and termination of contracts for exploration, production, combined 
exploration and production, except for contracts for the exploration, production of widespread mineral deposits; 
13) submission of an annual report to the Pres ident and the Government of the Republic of 
Kazakhstan on the progress of the performance of contract terms under contracts for exploration, 
production, combined exploration and production, except for contracts for the exploration, production of widespread mineral deposits; 
14) development of projects of lists of portio n of subsurface, except for those portions of 
subsurface containing widespread mineral deposits, which are subject to tendering; 
15) adoption of decisions on renewal of contract s for the exploration, production and combined 
exploration and production, except for contracts for the exploration, production of widespread 
mineral deposits; 
16) order of the President or the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, holding negotiations 
and execution of agreements with relevant bodies of other States which ensure the possibility of 
the performance of contracts; 
17) approval of the regulations of the expert commission for subsurface use issues; 18) determination of the minimum quantity of mineral raw materials the processing of which in the 
territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan shall be ensured by a tender participant; 
19) submission to the authorized body in the sphere of the State support of industrial and 
innovation activity for summarizing and analysis, of general information concerning local content in 
procurement of goods, works and services by subs urface users in accordance with the legislation 
of the Republic of Kazakhstan; 
20) development of model contracts; 21) monitoring and control of the performance by  subsurface users of the terms of contracts, 
including the obligations with regard to local content in the procurement of goods, works and 
services and local content in personnel; 
22) development of the procedure for monitoring and control of the compliance with the terms of 
contracts; 
23) mutually with the National Chamber of Entrepre neurs of the Republic of Kazakhstan collection 
and analysis of information concerning procurem ent of goods, works and services performed, 
being performed and planned to be performed in the year following the reporting period to be 
submitted by subsurface users and (or) persons au thorized by subsurface users to procure goods, 
works and services for the conducting subsurface use operations; 
23-1) development in conjunction with the Nati onal Chamber of Entrepreneurs of Kazakhstan, 
national balance of production, sale and consumption of hydrocarbon, including the national fuel 
and energy balance; 
24) mutually with the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, collection 
and analysis of information concerning procurem ent of goods, works and services planned for 
medium-term and long-term periods, submitted by subsurface users and (or) persons authorized G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
- 28 - 
 
  by subsurface users to procure goods, works and services for the conducting subsurface use 
operations; 
25) control over the compliance by subsurface users with the procedure for procurement of goods, 
works and services in performing subsurface use operations; 
26) request of information from national  registers of identification numbers; 
27) approval of the regulations of the working gr oup for holding direct negotiations for granting 
the right to subsurface use for exploration and production of minerals and its membership; 
27-1) is removed by Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten 
calendar days after its first official publication); 
27-2) is removed by Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten 
calendar days after its first official publication); 
27-3) approval of composition of the Interagenc y Commission on the issues of performing the 
priority right of the State and regulation on it; 
27-4) approval of composition of the Commission on conducting tenders for granting a subsurface 
right and regulation on it; 
27-5) approval of the order of submission by su bsurface users reports on conducting subsurface 
operations;  
27-6) approval of regulation on the working group on conducting negotiations on the contract 
conditions and its composition; 
27-7) approval of the model contract for exploration; 27-8) participation in elaboration of the rules for returning the contracted territory or its parts;  
28) exercise of other powers provided for by this  Law, other laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan, 
acts of the President of the Republic of Kaza khstan and the Government of the Republic of 
Kazakhstan. 
Article 18. The competence of the authoriz ed body in the sphere of oil and gas
11 
The competence of the authorized body in the sphere of oil and gas shall include: 1) by order of the President or the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, holding 
negotiations and making agreements with the relevant bodies of other States, providing with the 
possibility of construction and operation of pi pelines and other transportation means in their 
territories for export of petroleum; 
2) ensuring the formation of strategic petroleum reserves and recording their placement in the 
territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan; 
3) determining by schedules (annual and monthly) of  the quantity of petroleum to be processed in 
the internal market of the Republic of Kazakhstan  required covering the request of the internal 
market for lubricants, if necessary; 
4) performing the State control over the complia nce with the safety requirements for petroleum 
and the processes of its life cycle established by technical regulations; 
                                               
11 Article 18 as amended by the Law of the Republ ic of Kazakhstan dated 22.06.2012 No. 21-V (shall be 
enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication), dated 16.05.2014 No. 203-V 
(shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days  after its first official publication); dated 29.09.2014 
No. 239-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calend ar days after its first official publication); dated 
29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
- 29 - 
 
  5) approval of the development program of associ ated gas processing, introduction of alterations 
and amendments to approved programs of gas utilization and programs of development of 
associated gas processing upon agreement with th e authorized bodies for environment protection 
and for study and use of subsurface; 
6) issuance of permissions for flaring of associated and (or) natural gas during testing of an object 
of wells, pilot production from a deposit, technologically unavoidable gas flaring during 
commissioning, operation, maintenance and repair of technological equipment in accordance with 
the procedure approved by them; 
7) development and approval of the procedure for es tablishing the actual position of the coastline; 
8) development and determination of the procedure for maintenance of the common database of 
petroleum production and turnover; 
9) development and approval of the rules for creation, operation and use of artificial islands, dams, 
constructions and installations, as well as other facilities related to petroleum operations; 
10) developing and approval the rules for measuring and weighing of petroleum produced by 
subsurface users in the contract areas; 
11) development and approval of the procedure for conducting petroleum operations on sea, 
inland water bodies, within environmental emergency areas and specially protected natural areas; 
12) development and approval of the procedure for conducting of marine scientific researches; 
13) development and approval of the procedure for the use of the capacity of main pipelines and 
railway loading racks where free transfer capacity is available; 
14) development and approval of methodology of the calculation of normative standards and 
volumes of associated and (or) natural gas flaring in conducting of petroleum operations; 
15) development of forms and time periods of reporting on the fulfillment of the development of 
associated gas processing; 
16) performance of State regulation of petroleum production in accordance with the project of 
deposit development, as well as its turnover; 
16-1) exercise of licensing in the sphere of oil and gas; 
17) determination for subsurface users of the volumes of crude oil supply to the external market of 
the Republic of Kazakhstan for refining due to economic indices of feasibility study to the contract at the moment of its signing, within appraised petroleum sale prices specified in the feasibility study; 
18) working out of technical regulations and the a pproval of normative and technical documents in 
the sphere of subsurface use, within its competence; 
19) conducting analysis and the appraisal of risks of causing harm to human life and health and 
environment in the sphere of petroleum operations and petroleum transportation; 
20) development of the procedure for the issuance of permissions for associated and (or) natural 
gas flaring; 
21) development jointly with the authorized body for industrial policy regulation, of the forms and 
procedure for execution and submission of reports of subsurface users on the fulfillment of the obligations by the amount of costs to be allocated for training, advanced training and retraining of 
employees being the citizens of the Republic of  Kazakhstan engaged in the performance of a 
contract, or training of the citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan in accordance with the list of 
occupations agreed with the competent body; G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
- 30 - 
 
  22) development jointly with the authorized body for industrial policy regulation, of the forms and 
procedures for execution and submission of an nual, medium-term, long-term programs for the 
procurement of goods, works and services, report s of subsurface users on the procured goods, 
works and services and on the fulfillment of the obligations on Kazakhstan content in personnel; 
23) development jointly with the authorized body for industrial policy regulation, of the procedure 
for determination of the amount of expenses for scientific research and experimental development 
activities in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan required for the performance of works 
under a contract; 
23-1) elaboration together with the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of the Republic of 
Kazakhstan and approval of the national balance of production, sale and consumption of raw hydrocarbons, including national fuel and energy balance;  
23-2) development and approval of the list of pr oduction facilities to be fitted with a control 
metering devices; 
23-3) development and approval of the order of equipping production facilities with control 
metering devices and ensure functioning of the control metering devices; 
23-4) development and approval of the procedure of formation and functioning of the information 
system of oil accounting; 
23-5) definition of the operator information oil accounting system; 
23-6) setting standards and requirements for materials and substances necessary for carrying out 
cleaning works of the sea; 
23-7) approval of the National Plan for the Preven tion of oil spills and response at sea and inland 
waters of the Republic of Kazakhstan; 
24) exercising other powers provided for by this Law, other laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan, 
acts of the President of the Republic of Kaza khstan and the Government of the Republic of 
Kazakhstan. 
Article 19. The competence of the authorized body in the sphere of State support of 
industrial and innovation activity
12, 13 
The competence of the authorized body in the sphe re of State support of industrial and innovation 
activity shall include: 
1) approval of the statute on interregional commissions for explorat ion and development of 
widespread mineral deposits; 
2) development and approval of technical regula tions and the approval of normative technical 
documents in the sphere of study and use of the subsurface, as well as in the sphere of subsurface use within its jurisdiction; 
3) development and approval of the statute on the State commission for mineral reserves of the 
Republic of Kazakhstan and interregional commissions for mineral reserves; 
4) was removed by Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271- V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten 
calendar days after its first official publication); 
                                               
12 The title of Article 19 as amended by the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 09.01.2012 
No. 535-IV (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication). 
13 Article 19 as amended by the Laws of the Republic  of Kazakhstan dated 09.01.2012 No. 535-IV (shall 
be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication); dated 10.07.2012 No. 36-V 
(shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days  after its first official publication), dated 29.09.2014 
No. 239-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calend ar days after its first official publication); dated 
29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
- 31 - 
 
  5) development and approval of uniform rules for rational and comprehensive subsurface use in 
exploration and production of minerals; 
6) development and approval of the procedure for the purchase of goods, works and services in 
conducting of the subsurface use operations; 
7) is excluded by the Law of the Republic of  Kazakhstan dated 10.07.2012 No. 36-V (shall be 
enforced upon expiry of ten calendar da ys after its first official publication); 
8) is excluded by Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar 
days after its first official publication); 
9) development and approval of the procedure for State monitoring of the subsurface; 10) is excluded by Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar 
days after its first official publication); 
11) is excluded by Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar 
days after its first official publication); 
11-1) determination of the procedure of recognition of industrial activity (process) of subjects of 
industrial innovation activity (process) related to subsurface use;  
12) development and approval of the rules of liqu idation and conservation of the objects of the 
subsurface use; 
13) development and approval of the form of submi ssion of geological reporting on the subsurface 
condition;  
14) is excluded by Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar 
days after its first official publication); 
15) development and approval in coordination with the authorized body for oil and gas of the rules 
of the purchase of goods, works and services by  means of the State information system "Register 
of goods, works and services, used in conducti ng of the subsurface use operations and their 
producers"; 
16) development and approval of a common methodology of calculation by organizations of local 
content in purchasing goods, works and services; 
17) development and approval of the procedure for synchronization of operation of the systems of 
e-purchase with the work of the register of go ods, works and services, used in conducting the 
subsurface use operations, and their producers; 
18) development and approval of the procedure for issuance of the permission for exploration and 
production of industrial and technical waters in the amounts of two thousand and more cubical 
meters and their injection to the reservoir in accordance with technological scheme of production of minerals or for the production of underground waters for the purposes of water depression in 
course of the maintenance of mine operations; 
19) performance of methodological guidance of the activity of local executive bodies of a region, a 
city of republican significance, the capital concerni ng the formation of the list of goods, works and 
services produced in the territory of a region, a city of republican significance, the capital, and 
their producers; 
20) approval, upon agreement with the authorized body for oil and gas, of the list of priority 
high-technology productions, developed in the Republic of Kazakhstan; G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
- 32 - 
 
  21) development and approval of the procedure for calculating the minimum local content in 
goods, works and services in the course of subsurfa ce use operations, included in the conditions of 
a tender for granting the right to subsurface use; 
22) development and approval, jointly with the auth orized body for oil and gas, of the forms and 
procedures for development and submission of annual, medium-term, long-term programs for the 
procurement of goods, works and services, subsur face users' reports on the procured goods, 
works and services and on the fulfillment of the obligations on local content in personnel; 
23) development and approval, jointly with the auth orized body for oil and gas, of the forms and 
procedure for preparation and submission of subsurface users' reports on the fulfillment of the obligations on the amount of costs, allocated for training, advanced training and retraining of employees being the citizens of the Republic of  Kazakhstan engaged in the performance of a 
contract, and (or) training of the citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan in accordance with the list 
of professions agreed with the competent body; 
24) is excluded by the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 09.01.2012 No. 535-IV (shall be 
enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days  after its first official publication).  
25) approval of the register of goods, works and services used in subsurface operations and their 
producers, as well as the development of the criteria  for their appraisal in order to record into that 
register; 
25-1) approval of the Rules of servicing subsur face users by professional emergency and rescue 
services;  
25-2) defining a list of commonly occurring minerals; 
26) exercise of other powers provided for by this  Law, other laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan, 
acts of the President of the Republic of Kaza khstan and the Government of the Republic of 
Kazakhstan. 
Article 20. The competence of the authorized  body for study and use of the subsurface
14  
The authorized body for the study and use of subsurface shall: 1) implement the State policy in the sphere of  geological studies and comprehensive use of 
subsurface; 
2) issue and recall permissions for exploration and production of ground industrial-technical water 
in volumes from two thousand and more cubic meters a day to the extent, provided for in paragraph 6 of Article 35 of this Law; 
3) grant the right to subsurface use on the State geological studies, contracts (contracts) on the 
State geological studies, exercise their State registration, storage and performance monitoring; 
4) is excluded by the Law of the Republic of  Kazakhstan dated 10.07.2012 No. 36-V (shall be 
enforced upon expiry of ten calendar da ys after its first official publication); 
5) organize and conduct the State expertise of the subsurface, approve mineral reserves; 6) organize and conduct economic expertise of project budget documentation on performance of 
works in the sphere of State geological explor ation of the subsurface, with the exception of 
groundwater for drinking water supply of settlements; 
                                               
14 Article 20 as amended by the Law of the Republ ic of Kazakhstan dated 10.07.2012 No. 36-V (shall be 
enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication), dated 29.09.2014 No. 239-V (shall 
be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication); dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calend ar days after its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
- 33 - 
 
  7) organise the preparation and maintain the State register of the mineral reserves, State 
cadastres of deposits and occurrences of minerals, hazardous geological processes; 
8) determine the amount of historical costs, cost and terms of obtaining geological information; 9) organize and provide functioning of republican and territorial funds of geological information; 
9-1) transmits to the applicant for the use of geol ogical information on subsurface areas provided 
a simplified procedure for the exploration; 
10) is excluded by Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar 
days after its first official publication);  
11) monitor and control, within its competence, over the performance by subsurface users of the 
conditions of contracts, including the execution of contracts (contracts) on the State geological studies; 
12) develop normative and technical documentation in the sphere of study and use of the 
subsurface; 
13) submit proposal to the competent bodies on fo rmation of the lists of projects of subsurface 
portion, subject to tendering, and also provided in a simplified procedure for exploration; 
14) control over rational and comprehensive subsurface use, including primary processing 
(enrichment) of mineral raw materials; 
15) issue geological and mining allotments; 
16) organize and maintain the State cadastre of technogenic mineral formations; 17) approve projects of contracts and work programs; 18) perform State recording of ground waters in th e basis of the data of recording of the use of 
ground waters, provided by water users and by the hydro-meteorological service; 
19) maintain the State water cadastre to the extent, related to ground waters; 20) is excluded by Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar 
days after its first official publication); 
21) is excluded by Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar 
days after its first official publication); 
22) is excluded by Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar 
days after its first official publication); 
23) is excluded by Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar 
days after its first official publication); 
24) is excluded by Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar 
days after its first official publication); 
25) is excluded by Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar 
days after its first official publication);  
26) approve permissions for flaring associated and (or) natural gas to the extent, stipulated by 
this Law; 
27) approve project documents on the basis of recommendations of the central commission for the 
exploration and production of minerals; G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
- 34 - 
 
  28) submit proposals to the local executive body of a region, cities of republican significance, or 
the capital concerning the formation of draft lis ts of the portions of subsurface containing 
widespread mineral deposits subject to tendering; 
29) is excluded by the Law of the Republic of  Kazakhstan dated 10.07.2012 No. 36-V (shall be 
enforced upon expiry of ten calendar da ys after its first official publication); 
30) approve the procedure for conducting economic  expertise of project budget documentation on 
the facilities, related to works on State geologic al exploration and monitoring of subsurface, and 
temporary abandonment and abandonment of oil and gas wells and water wells; 
31) approve time standards and price rates for the performance of works in the sphere of State 
geological exploration and monitoring of subsurfa ce upon agreement with the authorized body for 
employment; 
32) is excluded by Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar 
days after its first official publication); 
32-1) approve rules of using geological information, possessed in State ownership, in study, 
scientific, commercial purposes and export of geological information outside the territory of the 
Republic of Kazakhstan;  
32-2) approve the order of determining historical ex penses and the cost of geological information;  
32-3) approve the order of concluding the contra ct (agreement) for State geological examination 
of subsurface;  
32-4) approve the order of conducting the State cadastre of technogenic mineral formations;  32-5) approve the order of giving permission to building up the areas of minerals laying;  
32-6) approve the order of conducting State cadastre of deposits and manifestations of minerals;  
32-7) elaborate and approve the order of including mineral reserves into State balance and their 
write-off from the State balance;  
32-8) approve the order of giving information un der State balance of mineral reserves to State 
bodies;  
32-9) approve the order of determining the size of  the damage, incurred as a result of breaching 
requirements in the field of sustainable use of subsurface;  
32-10) approve an order of the account of th e geological, hydrogeological, geotechnical, 
geophysical, ecological, geological, and geochemi cal study of the territory of the Republic of 
Kazakhstan; 
32-11) approve the procedure for returning the contract territory or its parts; 
32-12) approves the position of the discoverers of mineral deposits of the Republic of Kazakhstan; 
33) exercise other powers stipulated by this Law and the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
Article 21. The central commission for expl oration and development of minerals and 
interregional commission on exploration and development of widespread mineral 
deposits  
1. The main task of the central commission shall be  to ensure the application of the most effective 
methods of exploration and development of mineral and ground water deposits. G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
- 35 - 
 
  Recommendations of the central commission which are related to issues within its competence 
shall be documented in a protocol, adopted by a resolution of the authorized body for the study 
and use of subsurface, binding for all business entities notwithstanding their form of ownership, including foreign entities engaged in designing and exploration and development of minerals on 
the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
Organization of the activities of the central commission and interregional commissions, their 
composition and a procedure for the collection and storage of materials and documents shall be 
established by the statute of the central commission and interregional commissions, which shall be 
subject to approval by the competent body. 
The competent body shall have the right to retain representatives (experts) of public associations, 
scientific research institutes, organizations and other entities for work in the central commission. 
2. Deadlines for consideration by the central comm ission of the issues referred to its competence 
shall not exceed five months. 
3. The competence of the central commission shall include ensuring the application of the most 
effective methods of exploration and development of  minerals and ground wa ter during designing. 
4. The central commission shall perform the following functions: 1) consider and submit to the authorized body for the study and use of subsurface 
recommendations to approve or reject project documents for exploration and development of 
minerals, except for widespread mineral deposits , which are submitted by subsurface users, and 
amendments to such documents; 
2) submit to the authorized body for the study and use of subsurface recommendations concerning 
extension of the time period for performance of pilot production from deposits; 
3) submit to the authorized body for the study and use of subsurface recommendations to project 
organizations and subsurface users to enhance the rational and comprehensive use of mineral raw 
materials; 
4) ensure the use of the most effective methods and technologies for exploration and development 
of minerals in project documents; 
5) consider developments of scientific research, project organizations and subsurface users related 
to subsurface use, accurate records, the effective and comprehensive use of mineral raw materials. 
5. The central commission shall have the right to: 
1) request reference and other materials related to subsurface use, the effective and 
comprehensive use of mineral raw materials from scientific research and project organizations and subsurface users; 
2) submit recommendations to the authorized body for the study and use of subsurface concerning 
the necessity for subsurface users to conduct addi tional expertise of submitted project documents 
in scientific research organizations and State bodies within their competence; 
3) recommend the use of new forms and methods developed by scientific research, project 
organizations and subsurface users related to subsurface use, accurate record, rational and comprehensive use of mineral raw materials to project organizations and subsurface users. 
6. The powers of interregional commissions shall include the consideration and introduction to the 
relevant territorial subdivisions of the authorized body for the study and use of subsurface 
recommendations concerning approval of, or refusal to approve project documents related to exploration and development of widespread minera l deposits and amendments to them submitted 
by subsurface users. G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
- 36 - 
 
  Article 22. Tasks, functions and rights of the Commissions for the holding of tenders for 
granting the right to subsurface use and te nder commissions for granting the right to 
subsurface use to exploration or prod uction of widespread mineral deposits15 
1. The main tasks of the Commission for the holding of tenders for granting the right to subsurface 
use shall be: 
1) consideration and appraisal of applications for participation in the auction and the bids for 
participation in the tender for obtaining the right to subsurface use for exploration, production, 
combined exploration and production of minerals, except for widespread mineral deposits; 
2) selection of a winner among bidders for obtaining the right to subsurface use for exploration, 
production, combined exploration and production of minerals, except for widespread mineral deposits. 
2. Functions of the Commission for the holding of tenders for granting the right to subsurface use 
shall be: 
1) ensuring timely and qualitative consideration of applications for participation in the auction and 
the bids for participation in the tender; 
2) objective and comprehensive appraisal of submitted applications for participation in the auction 
and the bids for participation in the tender. 
3. The Commission for the holding of tenders for granting the right to subsurface use shall have 
the right to: 
1) apprise, compare the bids, submitted for participation in a tender; 2) select the tender winner; 
3) declare the tender void on the grounds established by this Law; 
4) request the necessary information from State bodies, organizations, other entities; 5) hear at the meetings the members of commission, representatives of State bodies, 
organizations and other persons; 
6) dismiss a applications for participation in the auction and the bids for participation in the tender 
on the grounds, established by this Law; 
7) engage experts if necessary among the specialists of relevant fields; 
8) exercise other rights stipulated by the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 4. The main tasks of tender commissions for granting the right to subsurface use for exploration or 
production of widespread mineral deposits, establis hed on the basis of the act of a local executive 
body of a region, a city of republic an significance, the capital shall be: 
1) timely review and assessment of applications for participation in the auction and the bids for 
participation in the tender for obtaining the right to subsurface use for exploration or production of 
common minerals; 
2) selection of a winner among bidders for obtaining the right to subsurface use for exploration, 
production of widespread mineral deposits. 
                                               
15 Article 22 with amendments introduced by the Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced 
upon expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  Tender commissions for granting the right to su bsurface use to exploration or production of 
widespread mineral deposits shall perform the func tions, specified by paragraph 2 of this Article 
and shall have the rights specified by paragraph 3 of this Article. 
Article 23. Tasks, functions and rights of Interdepartmental commission for exercising 
the State's priority right  
1. The main tasks of the Interdepartmental commi ssion for exercising the State's priority right 
shall be: 
1) consideration of applications concerning he alienation of the right to subsurface use (its part) 
and (or) an object related to the right to subsurfa ce use, subject to the requirements of this Law 
and legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the national security; 
2) preparation of proposals related to exercising the priority right of the State. 
2. Functions of the Interdepartmental commission for exercising the State's priority right shall 
include: 
1) consideration of applications of subsurface users concerning the alienation of the right to 
subsurface use (its part) under subsurface use contracts; 
2) consideration of applications of persons concerning the alienation of their interests (packages of 
shares) in legal entities having the right to subsurface use; 
3) consideration of applications of persons concerning the alienation of their interests (packages of 
shares) in legal entities which can directly and (or) indirectly determine decisions and (or) influence decisions to be made by subsurface users,  if the main activity of such legal entities is 
related to the subsurface use in the Republic of Kazakhstan; 
4) preparation, justification and submission of proposals to the competent body concerning the 
acquisition or waiver of acquisition by the State of alienable objects related to the right to subsurface use. 
3. The Interdepartmental commission for exercisi ng the State's priority right shall have the 
right to: 
1) interact with central executive and other State bodies and organisations; 
2) invite to meetings and hear representatives of  State bodies, organization s, officials and natural 
persons concerning the issues which are within its competence; 
3) according to the procedure established by the le gislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan, request 
and receive from State bodies, organizations, offi cials and natural persons any materials required 
for the performance of its functions. 
Article 24. Tasks, functions and rights of  the expert commission for subsurface use 
issues and expert commission for subsurface  use for exploration or production of 
widespread mineral deposits
16 
1. The main task of the expert commission for subsurface use issues shall be preparation of 
proposals to the competent body concerning the i ssues specified in paragraph 2 of this Article 
which are related to the turnover of the right to subsurface use (its part) and (or) objects related 
to the right to subsurface use, for exploration and (or) production of minerals, except for widespread mineral deposits. 
                                               
16 Article 24 as amended by the Law dated 07.03.2014 No. 177-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten 
calendar days after its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  2. Functions of the expert commission for subsurface use issues shall include consideration of 
applications, preparation, justification and submission to the competent body of proposals for issuance (refusal to issue) of permissions for: 
1) alienation of the right to subsurface use (its part) under subsurface use contracts; 
2) alienation of objects related to the right to subsurface use; 
3) pledge of the right to subsurface use (its part), participating interests (packages of shares) in 
legal entities having the right to subsurface use; 
4) participation in public auctions for sale of the right to subsurface use (its part), objects related 
to the right to subsurface use, in cases of forecl osure, including upon pledge, on such the right to 
subsurface use (its part), objects related to the right to subsurface use; 
5) participation in public auctions for the realization (sale) of such bankruptcy assets which include 
the right to subsurface use (its part), objects rela ted to the right to subsurface use, in the course 
of bankruptcy proceedings; 
6) acquisition by a pledgeholder of a pledged right to subsurface use (its part), a participating 
interest (package of shares) in a legal entity having the right to subsurface use, to the extent that 
auctions for the sale of the pledged the right to subsurface use (its part), an interest (packages of shares) in a legal entity having the right to subsurface use are declared void; 
7) acquisition of the right to an interest in a lega l entity having the right to subsurface use, as a 
result of an increase in the charter capital through additional contributions made by one or more of the participants or through accepting a new participant as a member of the legal entity; 
8) original issue to an organized security market of shares or other securities confirming the right 
of ownership to shares, or securities convertible into shares, of a legal entity which is a subsurface 
user, or a legal entity able to determine, either directly and (or) indirectly, decisions and (or) influence decisions adopted by such subsurface user , provided that the main activity of such legal 
entity is related to subsurface use in the Republic of Kazakhstan, including original issue to the 
organized market of securities of such securities  issued within the framework of an additional 
issue; 
9) a change in obligations under a work program, a contract; 
10) extension of contracts. By the order of the competent body, the expert  commission for subsurface use issues shall 
consider other issues related to subsurface use, [and] shall prepare and submit to the competent 
body relevant proposals related to such issues. 
3. The expert commission for subsurface use issues and rights related to it shall have the right to: 1) interact with central executive and other State bodies and organizations; 
2) invite to meetings and hear representatives of  State bodies, organization s, officials and natural 
persons concerning the issues which are within its competence; 
3) according to the procedure established by the le gislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan, request 
and receive from State bodies, organizations, offi cials and natural persons any materials required 
for the performance of its functions. 
4. The main task of the expert commission for subsurface use issues for exploration or production 
of widespread mineral deposits established under local executive bodies of a region, a city of 
republican significance, the capital, shall be preparation of proposals to the local executive bodies 
of a region, a city of republican significance, the capital, concerning the issues specified in paragraph 2 of this Article which are related to the turnover of the right to subsurface use G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
- 39 - 
 
  (its part) and (or) objects related to the right to subsurface use, for exploration and (or) 
production of minerals, except for widespread mineral deposits. 
Expert commission for subsurface use issues for exploration or production of widespread mineral 
deposits shall perform functions, specified by paragraph 2 of this Article.  
By the order of relevant local executive bodies of  a region, a city of republican significance, the 
capital, expert commission for subsurface use issues for exploration or production of widespread mineral deposits shall have the right to consider other issues, related to subsurface use for 
exploration or production of widespread mineral deposits, to prepare and to submit to the local 
executive bodies of a region, a city of republican  significance, the capital, appropriate proposals 
related to such issues. 
Expert commission for subsurface use issues for exploration or production of widespread mineral 
deposits shall have the rights, specified by paragraph 3 of this Article. 
Article 25. The competence of an author ized body for environmental protection
17 
The authorized body for environmental protection shall: 
1) exercise State control over subsurface protection; 
2) approve the issuance of permissions for the construction and (or) operation of underground 
facilities not related to exploration or production, within or outside of a contract area and 
designated for burial of radioactive wastes, harmful substances and waste waters; 
3) determine, together with the authorized body for the study and use of subsurface, the amount 
of damage resulting from violation of subsurface protection requirements and violations of State ownership of the subsurface; 
4) is excluded by the Law of the Republic of  Kazakhstan dated 10.07.2012 No. 36-V (shall be 
enforced upon expiry of ten calendar da ys after its first official publication); 
5) approve programs of measures for prevention of accidents and other dangerous situations 
during the performance of petroleum operations, the construction and operation of oil and gas 
pipelines; 
6) exercise State control over conservation and liquidation of subsurface use objects; 
7) perform ecological expertise of projects of exploration, production, and combined exploration 
and production contracts; 
8) approve the lists of projects of a subsurface portion, except for the portions of subsurface 
containing widespread mineral deposits which are subject to tendering and also provided in a 
simplified procedure for exploration; 
8-1) approve the issuance of a written permission to the right to subsurface use under 
construction (reconstruction) and repair of general purpose highways, railroads and hydraulic 
structures; 
9) exercise other powers stipulated by this Law, other laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan, acts of 
the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
                                               
17 Article 25 as amended by the Laws of the Republ ic of Kazakhstan dated 27.04.2012 No. 15-V (shall 
be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication); dated 10.07.2012 No. 36-V 
(shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days  after its first official publication), dated 29.09.2014 
No. 239-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calend ar days after its first official publication); dated 
29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
- 40 - 
 
  Article 26. The competence of other authorized bodies for subsurface use18 
1. The authorized body for employment of the population shall: 1) develop and approve, upon agreement with the competent body, methodology for the 
calculation of local content in personnel; 
2) participate in monitoring the fulfillment by subsurface users of their contractual obligations 
related to Kazakhstan content in personnel as well as in ensuring that the labour conditions and payment for work of Kazakhstan personnel are on a non-discriminatory basis; 
3) approve a procedure for calculation of  a minimum local content in personnel; 
4) in accordance with the procedure agreed wi th the competent body, submit the minimum local 
content in personnel to the competent body for incl usion in the conditions of tenders for granting 
the right to subsurface use; 
5) other powers stipulated by the laws of the Repu blic of Kazakhstan, acts of the President of the 
Republic of Kazakhstan and the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
2. The authorized body for education and science shall: 
1) develop and approve, upon agreement with th e competent body, methodology for calculation of 
the minimum level of requirements related to the training of Kazakhstan specialists; 
2) participate in monitoring the fulfillment by subsurface users of their contractual obligations 
related to the training of Kazakhstan specialists; 
3) approve the procedure for calculation of the minimum quantity of Kazakhstan personnel to 
undergo training as a percentage of the total set of the personnel; 
4) in accordance with the procedure agreed with  the competent body, provide the competent body 
with the minimum quantity of Kazakhstan personne l to be trained, expressed as a percentage of 
the total set of the personnel subject to training; 
5) exercise other powers stipulated by laws of th e Republic of Kazakhstan, acts of the President of 
the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Gove rnment of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
3. The authorized body for State planning sets th e rules of performing economic expertize of the 
draft subsurface use contracts in agreement with the competent authority. 
4. The authorized body in the field of legal regula tion sets the rules of performing legal expertise 
of the draft subsurface use contracts in agreement with the competent authority. 
Article 27. The competence of local executive bodies of a region, a city of republican 
significance, the capital
19 
Local executive bodies of a region, a city of  republican significance, the capital shall: 
                                               
18 Article 26 as amended by the Law of the Republ ic of Kazakhstan dated 09.01.2012 No. 535-IV (shall 
be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication), dated 29.09.2014 No. 239-V 
(shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calend ar days after its first official publication). 
19 Article 27 as amended by the Laws of the Republic  of Kazakhstan dated 09.01.2012 No. 535-IV (shall 
be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication); dated 27.04.2012 No. 15-V 
(shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days  after its first official publication); dated 10.07.2012 
No. 36-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calend ar days after its first official publication), dated 
13.06.2013 No. 102-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication); 
dated 29.09.2014 No. 239-V(shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after its first official 
publication); dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
- 41 - 
 
  1) grant land plots to subsurface users with the righ t of land use, of the size and for a period which 
are determined in the contract, in accordance with the land legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan. If necessary, they seize land plots from private owners or land users for the purposes Stated above, in accordance with the procedure es tablished by the land legislation of the Republic 
of Kazakhstan; 
1-1) carry out re-registration of legal documents for land on the trustee under the trust 
management contract of the contracted territory concluded in accordance with Article 72-1 of this 
Law; 
2) within the limits of their competence, exercise control of the protection of land plots and water 
areas granted for conducting subsurface use operations, compliance by subsurface users with the requirements for ecological safety, preservation of archaeological monuments and other sites of 
historic and cultural heritage; 
3) participate in negotiations with subsurface users to resolve issues related to the observance of 
the social-economic and ecological interests of the population in the region when concluding 
contracts; 
4) participate in monitoring the fulfillment of their contractual obligations by subsurface users with 
regard to local content in goods, work, servic es and personnel, and social development of 
territories, including through a register of the goods, works and services used for conducting 
subsurface use operations, and of their producers; 
5) issue permissions to subsurface users for retaining foreign labour in accordance with the 
procedure established by the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan; 
6) approve lists of the portions of subsurface containing widespread mineral deposits which shall 
be subject to tendering; 
7) form a list of goods, works and services prod uced on the territory of a region, a city of 
republican significance, the capital, and of their producers, which list shall be submitted to the 
competent body on a quarterly basis for purposes of the formation and maintenance of a register of the goods, works and services used for co nducting subsurface operations, and of their 
producers; 
8) prepare and organize tenders for granting the right to subsurface use for exploration and 
production of widespread mineral deposits; 
9) approve the composition of tender commissions for granting the right to subsurface use for 
exploration and production of widespread mineral deposits; 
10) conduct negotiations with subsurface users on contract terms and prepare jointly with 
subsurface users project contracts for exploration or production of widespread mineral deposits; 
10-1) organize and conduct prospecting and exploration works of underwater for household and 
drinking water supply of population centres;  
11) organize expertise of project contract documents related to widespread mineral deposits, 
except for expertise of design apprise documentation for the performance of work related to the 
State geological exploration of subsurface; 
12) conclude, register and store contracts for exploration, production of widespread mineral 
deposits and construction and (or) operation of underground facilities, not related to the 
exploration or production; 
13) permissions for transfer of the right to subsurfa ce use in accordance with Article 37 of this Law 
and register transactions involving the pledge of the right to subsurface use with respect to 
widespread mineral deposits; G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  13-1) issue permissions for the right to subsurface use under construction (reconstruction) and 
repair of general purpose highways, railroads and hydraulic structures; 
13-2) give permission for building-up of the areas of deposits of minerals, as well as construction 
of underearth sites in the areas of their deposits;  
14) ensure the performance and termination of contracts for exploration or production of 
widespread mineral deposits and construction and (or) operation of underground facilities, not related to the exploration or production; 
15) promote the preservation of the items related to subsurface use which have environmental, 
scientific, historic and cultural, and recreational significance; 
16) approve, upon agreement with the competent body and authorized central executive bodies, 
lists of the geological, geomorphologic and hydro-geological sites of the State natural preserve 
fund of local significance and the portions of subsurface that represent special ecological, scientific, 
historic and cultural, and recreational value and ar e included in the category of specially-protected 
natural areas of local significance; 
17) make decisions on renewal of contracts for ex ploration and production of widespread mineral 
deposits and construction and (or) operation of underground facilities, not related to the exploration or production; 
18) exercise monitoring and control over the perf ormance of contractual obligations with respect 
to widespread mineral deposits and construction and (or) operation of underground facilities, not related to the exploration or production; 
19) is excluded by Law dated 13.06.2013 No. 102-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar 
days after its first official publication);  
19-1) elaborate and suggest for approval by maslikha t the rules of building-up of the territories of 
the cities and population locations, the rules of maintenance and protection of green plants, rules 
of improvement of the territories of th e cities and population locations;  
20) exercise, in behalf of the local State administration, other powers which are assigned to local 
executive bodies in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
Chapter 3. The right to subsurface use  
Article 28. Types of the right to subsurface use
20 
1. The right to subsurface use shall be granted in order to conduct the following operations: 1) State geological exploration of subsurface; 
2) exploration; 
3) production; 4) combined exploration and production; 
5) construction and (or) operation of underground facilities, not related to the exploration or 
production. 
2. The right to subsurface use may be permanen t or temporary, alienable or inalienable, and 
granted for value or free of charge. 
                                               
20 Article 28 with amendments introduced by Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon 
expiry of ten calendar days afte r its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  3. The production of widespread mineral deposits for the subsurface user's own needs shall be 
conducted on the basis of the permanent right to  subsurface use granted free of charge, on the 
land plots which are held by the subsurface user according to the private ownership or land use right. 
All other types of subsurface use operations shall be conducted on the basis of temporary 
subsurface use for value. 
Article 29. Holders of the right to subsurface use  
1. Holders of the right to subsurface use may be Kazakhstan and foreign natural persons and legal 
entities. 
2. Subsurface users must be business entities, except for persons producing widespread mineral 
deposits and ground water for their own needs. 
3. Several persons may be holders of the right to subsurface use under one contract. Such persons 
shall be joint holders of the right to subsurface use and shall bear joint and several liabilities for obligations arising under the contract. 
Rights and obligations of joint holders of the right to subsurface use with respect to the competent 
body or local executive body of a region, a city of republican significance, the capital as well as the amount of their interests in the right to subsurface use shall be established in the contract. 
Rights and obligations of joint holders of the right to subsurface use and a procedure for 
conducting common affairs shall be established in the contract as well as in the joint operating agreement. The provisions of the joint operating agreement shall not contradict the provisions of 
the contract. 
To the extent of establishment or appointment of an operator under a contract, the joint holders of 
the right to subsurface use shall be obliged to inform the competent body thereof in writing. 
In contracts with mandatory shared participation of a national company, the participating interest 
of the national company in the charter capital of the operator shall not be less than fifty percent. 
Joint holders of the right to subsurface use shall bear property liability for actions of the operator. Article 30. Guarantees of a subsurface user rights  
A subsurface user shall be guaranteed protection of its rights in accordance with the legislation of 
the Republic of Kazakhstan. Any amendments and additions to legislation which deteriorate the 
results of the entrepreneurial activities of the subsurface user under contracts shall not apply to the contracts concluded prior to the introduction of such amendments and additions.  
The guarantees established by this Article shall not apply to changes of the legislation of the 
Republic of Kazakhstan in the sphere of ensuring national security, defence capacity, in the spheres of ecological safety, healthcare, taxation and customs regulation. 
Article 31. Functions of a national company
21 
1. The functions of a national company within the competence established by the legislation of the 
Republic of Kazakhstan shall be as follows: 
1) participation in the implementation of the unified State policy in the sphere of subsurface use; 
2) representation of State interests in contracts involving shared participation of the national 
company, in accordance with the procedure established in accordance with the procedure established by the authorized body in the sphere of  State support of industrial innovation, together 
                                               
21 Article 31 with amendments introduced by Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon 
expiry of ten calendar days afte r its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  with the authorized body in the field of oil and ga s, and in the limits of the powers set forth in the 
contracts; 
3) conducting subsurface use operations jointly with winners of tenders through shared 
participation in contracts according to the decision of the competent authority;  
4) conducting subsurface use operations in portions of subsurface granted on the basis of direct 
negotiations; 
5) participation in the international and internal projects of the Republic of Kazakhstan which 
involve subsurface use operations and transportation of hydrocarbons; 
6) participation in the preparation of annual reports on the implementation of contracts to the 
President and the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan; 
7) performance of corporate management and monitoring of exploration, development, 
production, treatment, sale of minerals, transportation of hydrocarbons, designing, construction, 
operation of oil and gas pipelines and the petroleum deposit infrastructure; 
8) accordance with the procedure specified in pa ragraph 8 of Article 13 of this Law, negotiating 
and signing agreements on the acquisition of an alienable right to subsurface use (its part) and 
(or) an object related to the right to subsurface use, with its alienator (alienators). 
2. In contracts under which the national company acts as a subsurface user, exploration shall be 
financed by its strategic partner unless as otherwise provided in the joint operating agreement. 
Article 32. Portion of subsurface, granted fo r the conducting subsurface use operations  
1. Portions of subsurface within the borders of th e territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan shall be 
the State property and shall be granted for the conducting subsurface use operations according to 
the procedure established by this Law. 
2. A portion of subsurface may not be subject in turnover. 3. The right to subsurface use shall be the subjec t of turnover in accordance with the procedure 
and on the conditions established in this Law. 
Article 33. Geological and mining allotments
22 
1. Holders of the right to subsurface use for exploration, production, combined exploration and 
production as well as for the construction and (or) operation of underground facilities not related 
to exploration or production shall have the right to conduct the relevant subsurface use operations only within a portion of subsurface, established by the geological or mining allotment, accordingly. 
2. A geological allotment shall be issued by the authorized body for the study and use of 
subsurface within twenty days after the day of application by the tender winner or a person to 
which the right to subsurface use is granted without holding a tender to the extent, stipulated by this Law. 
3. A mining allotment shall be issued by the auth orized body for the study and use of subsurface 
to the tender winner or person to which the right to subsurface use is granted without holding a tender to the extent, stipulated in paragraph 2 of Article 35 of this Law, within twenty days of the 
day of submission by the above person  of a project of mining allotment. 
4. A holder of the right to subsurface use for prod uction shall have the right to perform exploration 
operations within a portion of subsurface established by the mining allotment. If the field on which production properties are made beyond the subsurface area, certain mining allotment, the 
subsurface user may apply to the competent authority for a permit to expand the contract territory 
                                               
22 Article 33 as amended by the Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten 
calendar days after its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  with the subsequent reception of a new mining lease or geological allotment, including the 
subsurface area is defined mining allotment, as well  as a new site or sites of subsurface geological 
study subject. The corresponding expansion of the contract area in this case is made in accordance with paragraph 4 of Article 70 of this Law. In the case of growth stocks and confirm the State 
examination of subsurface contract in a written agreement the parties should be amended 
accordingly in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan.   
Article 34. Creation of the right to subsurface use  
1. The right to subsurface use may arise by: 
1) granting; 2) transferring; 3) transfer through legal succession. 
2. Granting the right to subsurface use means ve sting the right to subsurface use in a person 
directly by the State. 
3. Transfer of the right to subsurface use means ve sting the right to subsurface use in a person by 
another subsurface user. 
4. Transfer of the right to subsurface use throug h legal succession means the creation the right to 
subsurface use of a legal successor to the extent of reorganization of a legal entity and in case of 
death of the natural person having the right to subsurface use. 
Article 35. Granting the right to subsurface use
23 
1. The right to subsurface use shall be granted by  way of conclusion of contracts, except for the 
cases stipulated in paragraphs 5, 6, 9 and 10 of this Article. 
2. A contract for exploration, production, combined exploration and production shall be concluded 
with the tender winner on the basis of tender results. 
The following contracts shall be concluded without holding a tender on the basis of direct 
negotiations: 
1) for the performance of production operations, with a person having the exclusive right to be 
granted the right to subsurface use for production in connection with a commercial discovery and 
on the basis of an exploration contract; 
2) for the performance of operations related to th e construction and (or) operation of underground 
facilities not related to exploration or production; 
3) is excluded by the Law of the Republic of  Kazakhstan dated 27.04.2012 No. 15-V (shall be 
enforced upon expiry of ten calendar da ys after its first official publication); 
4) for the performance of exploration and (or) prod uction operations with a national company, in 
accordance with separation of activities, appr oved by the Government of the Republic of 
Kazakhstan; 
                                               
23 Article 35 as amended by the Laws of the Republic  of Kazakhstan dated 09.01.2012 No. 535-IV (shall 
be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication); dated 27.04.2012 No. 15-V 
(shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days  after its first official publication); dated 10.07.2012 
No. 36-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten cale ndar days after its first official publication), 
dated 13.06.2013 No. 102-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication); dated 29.09.2014 No. 239-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after its first 
official publication); dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after 
its first official publication); dated 15.06.2015 No. 322-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication); dated 29.10.2015 No. 376-V (is enforced from 01.01.2016). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  4-1) for the performance of exploration and (or) production operations with industrial and 
innovative entities in accordance with the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On State support of industrial and innovative activity", activities (p rocess) which is connected with subsurface use; 
5) for the performance of exploration and (or) production operations in the case established by 
paragraph 4 of Article of this Law; 
6) for the performance of operations involving th e daily production of more than two thousand 
cubic meters of ground water for drinking or domestic water supply to the population, with the 
owner or land user of the land plot beneath which the ground water is located, provided that 
he/she/it has the special water use right to this plot. 
7) to conduct exploration operations on subsurface blocks granted in a simplified procedure. 8) to carry out operations for the processing or other use of anthropogenic mineral formations in 
the case specified in paragraph 5 of Article 10 of this Law. 
2-1. The exploration license may be concluded without a tender and direct negotiations provided 
for in paragraph 2 of this article, based on the approval of the competent authority in respect of 
region (s) of subsurface released from the contract area as a result of its transformation in the 
manner prescribed in Article 70-1 of this Law. 
3. Is excluded by the Law of the Republic of  Kazakhstan dated 10.07.2012 No 36-V (shall be 
enforced upon expiry of ten calendar da ys after its first official publication). 
4. Granting of the right to subsurface use shal l not be required for the construction and (or) 
operation of underground facilities related to expl oration and (or) production which are provided in 
work programs under exploration or production contracts. 
5. Rights for the production of ground water for household-potable and industrial-technical 
purposes with the limits of extraction from fifty to two thousand cubic meters a day shall be granted on the basis of a permission issued by th e authorized body for the use and protection of 
the water stock, water supply and water removal, in accordance with the procedure established by 
the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
6. Granting a subsurface user of the right for exploration or production of industrial-technical 
ground water in the volumes of two thousand or more cubic meters a day for its injection in a 
reservoir in accordance with a technological scheme of production of minerals, or for production of ground water for purposes of water depression in the operation of mine workings shall be made by 
the issuance of a permission by the authorized  body for the study and use of subsurface, in 
accordance with the procedure established by th e Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to  the production of ground water for dewatering 
purposes in the operation of mine workings which subsurface users perform under concluded 
subsurface use contracts. 
7. The right to subsurface use for the exploratio n or production of widespread mineral deposits 
shall be granted by conclusion of a contract with  the local executive body of a region, a city of 
republican significance, the capital, except for the cases, stipulated by paragraph 10 of this Article. 
8. The right to subsurface use for State geological  exploration of subsurface shall be granted by 
conclusion of contracts (agreements) for operations involving the State geological exploration of subsurface with the authorized body for the study and use of subsurface, in accordance with the 
procedure established by the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
9. The right to subsurface use for the production of widespread mineral deposits for own needs as 
well as ground water in production quantities not exceeding fifty cubic meters a day shall be 
granted simultaneously with granting into private ownership or land use of the land plot beneath 
which the widespread mineral deposits and ground water are located. If a land plot is granted for temporary land use, the terms of using widespre ad mineral deposits for own needs as well as G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  ground water in production volumes not exceeding fifty cubic meters a day may be provided in a 
temporary land use agreement. 
10. Granting the right to subsurface use for widespread mineral deposits, used in construction 
(reconstruction) and repair of general purpose highways, railroads and hydraulic structures shall 
be performed on the basis of a permission in  writing by a local executive body under the 
agreement with the territorial division of the competent body for study and use of subsurface and the authorized body for environmental protection, according to the procedure, established by the 
Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
Article 36. Transfer of the right to subsurface use and objects, related to the right to 
subsurface use
24  
1. Transfer of the right to subsurface use and (o r) objects related to the right to subsurface use 
shall be performed by: 
1) alienation of the right to subsurface use, either  fully or partially, to another entity on the basis 
of paid or free of charge civil transactions; 
2) alienation of objects related to the right to subs urface use, on the basis of  paid or free of charge 
civil transactions; 
3) transfer of the right to subsurface use, objects related to the right to subsurface use to the 
charter capital of another legal entity; 
4) alienation of the right to subsurface use which is performed in the course of privatization of the 
property complexes of State enterprises having the right to subsurface use; 
5) alienation of the right to subsurface use, objects related to the right to subsurface use during 
the process of bankruptcy proceedings; 
6) levy of execution upon the right to subsurface use, objects related to the right to subsurface 
use, including in case of pledge; 
7) creation of a right to an interest in a legal entity having the right to subsurface use, in a legal 
entity which is able to determine, directly and (o r) indirectly, decisions and (or) influence decisions 
adopted by such subsurface user, provided that the main activity of such legal entity is associated 
with subsurface use in the Republic of Kazakhstan, as a result of an increase in the charter capital 
through additional contributions made by one or more participants as well as through admission of a new participant to the legal entity. 
2. Transfer of the right to subsurface use for exploration, production, combined exploration and 
production of minerals, except for widespread mine ral deposits and (or) objects related to the right 
to subsurface use, shall be performed with the permission of the competent body, which shall be issued in accordance with the procedure established by Article 37 of this Law. 
Transfer of the right to subsurface use for ex ploration and production of widespread mineral 
deposits and (or) objects related to the right to subsurface use shall be performed with the permission of the local executive bodies of a region , a city of republican significance, the capital, 
which shall be issued in accordance with the procedure established by Article 37 of this Law. 
3. Original issue to an organized security market of shares or other securities confirming the right 
of ownership to shares, or of securities conver tible into shares, of a legal entity which is a 
subsurface user, a legal entity which is able to determine, directly and (or) indirectly, decisions 
and (or) influence decisions adopted by such subsur face user, provided that the main activity of 
such legal entity is related to subsurface use in the Republic of Kazakhstan, including original issue 
                                               
24 Article 36 with amendments introduced by Laws dated 07.03.2014 No. 177-V (shall be enforced upon 
expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication); dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced 
upon expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication); dated 27.04.2015 No. 311-V (see Article 2 for the order of enforcement). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  to an organized security market of such securiti es issued within the framework of an additional 
issue, shall be performed upon the permission of  the competent body, issued in accordance with 
the procedure established by Article 37 of this Law. 
4. Transfer of the right to subsurface use (its pa rt), objects related to the right to subsurface use 
into pledge shall be performed upon the permission  of the competent body or local executive body 
of a region, a city of republican significance, the capital, concerning widespread mineral deposits, which shall be granted in accordance with the procedure established by Article 37 of this Law. 
A received loan secured by the right to subsurface  use shall be used for subsurface use purposes 
or for organizing any subsequent redistribution on the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan stipulated by the subsurface use contract, by the subsurface user itself or by its subsidiary organization with one hundred percent participation interest in its charter capital. 
In the case of conducting operations referred to  in Article 61-4 of the Law of the Republic of 
Kazakhstan "On Banks and Banking Activity in the Republic of Kazakhstan", the competent 
authority or the local executive body of the area, the city with republican status, capital shall be 
notified of the transaction in respect of common minerals.
25 
5. The provisions of paragraph 2 of this Article shall not apply to the following cases: 1) transactions on alienation traded on an organized securities market, shares or other securities, 
confirming the ownership of shares or securities co nvertible into shares of a legal entity having the 
right to subsurface use, a legal entity which is able to determine, directly and (or) indirectly, decisions and (or) influence decisions adopted by such subsurface user, provided that the main activity of such legal entity is related to the subsurface use in the Republic of Kazakhstan; 
2) transfer of the right to subsurface use or its part, objects related to the right to subsurface use: 
- in favor of a subsidiary in which not less than a ninety nine percent interest (block of 
shares) is owned, directly or indirectly, by the subsurface user, provided that such 
subsidiary is not registered in a tax-haven country; 
- between the legal entities, in each of which not less than ninety nine percent of 
interests (blocks of shares) are owned, directly or indirectly, by the same person, 
provided that the acquirer of the whole or part of the right to subsurface use, objects 
related to the right to subsurface use is not registered in a tax-haven country; 
3) transfer of shares (participating interests) in a legal entity which is a subsurface user unless, as 
the result of such a transfer, the entity acquires th e right to dispose, either directly or indirectly 
(through third parties), of less than 0.1% of participating interests (blocks of shares) in the charter 
capital of a legal entity subsurface user, and (or) a legal entity able to determine, directly and (or) 
indirectly, decisions and (or) influence decisions of such subsurface user, provided that the main 
activity in the Republic of Kazakhstan of that legal entity is related to the subsurface use. 
6. Transfer of the right to subsurface use for th e State geological exploration of subsurface which 
is granted to a subsurface user on the basis of a contract with the authorized body for the study 
and use of subsurface may be effected only upon the prior permission of that body. 
7. Transfer of the right to subsurface use for exploration or production of widespread mineral 
deposits and ground water to satisfy one's own needs is performed simultaneously with the transfer of land, under which are common minerals and underground water, to private property or 
land use. In case of transfer of a land plot for temporary land use, the terms of use of widespread 
mineral deposits and ground water for satisfaction of one's own needs may be provided in a temporary land use agreement. 
                                               
25 The third part of paragraph 4 enters into force on 01.01.2015 and is valid until 31.12.2015 
(see Article 2 of the Law dated 27.04.2015 No. 311-V). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  No permission shall be required from the local ex ecutive bodies of a region, cities of republican 
significance, the capital for transfer of the right to  subsurface use for exploration or production of 
widespread mineral deposits and ground waters  for the satisfaction of one's own needs. 
The transfer the right to subsurface use to widespread mineral deposits and ground waters to 
satisfy one's own needs without transferring the land  plot beneath which they are located, shall be 
prohibited. 
8. To the extent of a partial transfer of the right to subsurface use to another person, the 
subsurface user and such person shall agree on their mutual obligations arising in the course of 
their joint exercise of rights and performance of  obligations under the contact. A joint operating 
agreement or any other agreement on the establis hment of mutual rights and obligations within 
the framework of the activities under a contract be tween subsurface users shall be agreed with the 
competent body or local executive body of a region, a city of republican significance, the capital 
with respect to widespread mineral deposits and shall be a supplement to the contact which shall be binding on the parties to the contract. 
9. To the extent of transfer of a part of the right to subsurface use held by several natural persons 
or legal entities, such transfer shall be possible on ly upon the permission of all holders of such the 
right to subsurface use. 
10. As long as a subsurface user retains any participation in a contract, the subsurface user and 
the transferee of the right to subsurface use shall have joint-and-several liability for any obligations arising from the contract. 
11. Transfer of the right to subsurface use shall be the unconditional basis for re-registration of 
the land plot, mining or geological allotment. 
Transfer of the right to subsurface use shall be the unconditional basis for re-registration (transfer) 
of the liquidation fund established under the contract terms. 
12. All costs for transferring the right to subsurface use shall be the subsurface user's costs unless 
otherwise established by the conditions of such transfer. 
13. Transfer of the right to subsurface use sh all entail the necessity to introduce relevant 
amendments and (or) additions to the contract  and shall be considered completed from the 
moment of registration of such amendments and (or) additions. The competent body or the local 
executive body of a region, a city of republican si gnificance, the capital shall have the right to deny 
registration of a contract in the absence of the fact of consummation of a civil transaction involving 
the transfer of the right to subsurface use or th e establishment of the fact of provision by the 
subsurface user to the competent body or the local executive body of a region , a city of republican 
significance, the capital of unreliable information about the basis of which the permission to the 
transfer of the right to subsurface use was issued, or to the extent of a failure to comply with the 
provisions of paragraphs 8 and 9 of this Article. 
Transfer of rights to the objects related to the right to subsurface use shall be documented in 
accordance with the procedure stipulated by the le gislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan, subject 
to the provisions of this Article. 
14. Transactions and other actions aimed at transferring the right to subsurface use, objects 
related to the right to subsurface use, which are concluded without the permission of the 
competent body or the local executive body of a region, a city of republican significance, the 
capital which is stipulated in paragraph 2 of this Ar ticle, or after the expiration of the term of such 
permission, and without the prior permission of the authorized body for the study and use of 
subsurface, granted in accordance with paragraph 6 of this Article, shall be invalid from the 
moment of their conclusion. 
Any failure to notify the competent body of a concluded transaction within five working days after 
its conclusion shall be the basis for recognizing the transaction as void. G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  The requirement of this paragraph is not applied in  the case foreseen by part three of paragraph 4 
of this Article, provided that the competent auth ority or the local executive body of the area, the 
city of republican status, capital in respect of common minerals are properly notified.26 
Article 37. The procedure for granting permi ssions to alienate the right to subsurface 
use and rights related to them27  
1. Unless as otherwise established by this Law, a person intending to alienate its right to 
subsurface use (its part) and (or) objects related to the right to subsurface use shall submit an 
application to the competent body, seeking its permission to the transfer of the right to subsurface 
use and (or) the objects related to the right to subsurface use. 
To the extent of alienation of the right to subsurfa ce use (its part) for exploration or production of 
widespread mineral deposits, an application seekin g permission to the transfer of the right to 
subsurface use shall be submitted to the local ex ecutive body of a region, a city of republican 
significance, the capital. 
2. An application for granting permission to alienate the right to subsurface use (its part) and (or) 
objects related to the right to subsurface use must be executed in the Kazakh and Russian 
languages and shall contain: 
1) the full name of a legal entity or the surname and name of the natural person holding the right 
to subsurface use or owning the object related to the right to subsurface use; 
2) specification of the portion of subsurface and the right to subsurface use (its part) which is 
being alienated or specification of the object related to the right to subsurface use which is subject to alienation; 
3) the exact scope of an alienable right to subsurface use (its part) or the amount of participating 
interest (package of shares), the set of securiti es being alienated, and the scope of the rights 
remaining with the initial holder and other persons, a type of alienable securities; 
4) information about the total amount of the charter capital and composition of the participants, 
the total set of issued securities confirming the ri ght of ownership of the shares or convertible into 
shares, the total number and the proportion of shar e packages of the legal entity holding the right 
to subsurface use, of the legal entity that is able  to directly and (or) indirectly determine decisions 
and (or) influence decisions adopted by such subsurface user; 
5) information about the acquirer of the right to subsurface use or of the object related to the right 
to subsurface use: 
- for legal entities, the name of the acquirer, its location, nationality, information about 
its State registration as a legal entity an d registration with tax bodies, information 
about managers and their powers, information about participants with specification of 
the amount of their participating interests (packages of shares), information about 
circulation of securities of the legal entity on an organized security market and about the total set of such securities, information about subsidiaries of the acquirer; 
- for legal entities, the name of the acquirer, its location, nationality, information about 
its State registration as a legal entity an d registration with tax bodies, information 
about managers and their powers, information about participants with specification of the amount of their participating interests (packages of shares), information about 
circulation of securities of the legal entity on an organized security market and about 
the total set of such securities, information about subsidiaries of the acquirer); 
                                               
26 Third part of paragraph 14 enters into force on 01.01.2015 and is valid until 31.12.2015 (see Article 2 
of the Law dated 27.4.2015 No. 311-V). 
27 Article 37 with amendments introduced by Laws dated 07.11.2014 No. 248-V (shall be enforced upon 
expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication); dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced 
upon expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication); dated 27.04.2015 No. 311-V (see Article 2 for the order of enforcing). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
- 51 - 
 
  6) information about the previous activities of the acquirer, including a list of the States in which 
the acquirer conducted its activities for the last three years as well as information about the financial, technical, managerial and organization al capabilities of the acquirer, including the 
qualifications of the personnel; 
7) the basis for alienating the right to subsurface use or an object related to the right to 
subsurface use; 
8) a legal status of the applicant in the legal relations involving the alienation of the right to 
subsurface use or interest (package of shares) in a legal entity being a subsurface user; 
9) written confirmation by the acquirer certifying that all information about the acquirer in the 
application and documents attached to it is accurate; 
10) the surname and the first name of the person th at signed the application, specification of the 
powers of such person, information about a document certifying his/her identity; 
10-1) information on the size of the liquidation fund  transferred by the subsurface user in case of 
its transfer; 
11) information about the price and other conditions of alienation of the right to subsurface use or 
the object related to the right to subsurface use. 
Such application shall be supplemented by duly certified documents (or their notarized copies) 
confirming the information included in the application. 
All documents attached to an application shall be drafted in the Kazakh and Russian languages. In 
the event that an application is submitted by a foreign national or a foreign legal entity, such documents may be drafted in another language, and each document must be accompanied with a 
translation of such document into the Kazakh and Russian languages, and its accuracy shall be 
certified by a notary. 
2-1. In conducting the operation foreseen under  Article 61-4 of the Law of the Republic of 
Kazakhstan "On Banks and Banking Activity in the Republic of Kazakhstan", a notarized copy of 
the agreement on simultaneous transfer of asse ts and liabilities (with the application of the 
transfer act or an extract from it) is attached to the application.
28 
3. The competent body shall, within five working days of the receipt stipulated in paragraph 2 of 
this Article, and in respect of subsurface areas, de posits of strategic importance, of the protocol of 
the interdepartmental commission for the issues of exercising of the priority right of the State, 
send for consideration of the expert commission for subsurface use issues the materials required 
for preparation of proposals for granting (refusal to grant) permission for alienation of the right to 
subsurface use and (or) objects related to the right to subsurface use. 
4. The expert commission for subsurface use issues shall, within ten working days of the receipt of 
materials, consider the application and other materials and prepare corresponding proposals for 
granting (refusal to grant) its permission for alienation of the right to subsurface use and (or) objects related to the right to subsurface use. 
The expert commission for subsurface use issues shall have the right to request and receive from 
an applicant and other persons any additional materials directly pertaining to the alienation of the right to subsurface use or objects related to the right to subsurface use. 
Proposals of the expert commission for subsurface use issues concerning granting (refusal to 
grant) permission for alienation of the right to su bsurface use and (or) objects related to the right 
to subsurface use shall be documented in a protocol, which shall be sent to the competent body. 
                                               
28 Paragraph 2-1 enters into force on 01.01.2015 and is valid until 31.12.2015 (see Article 2 of the Law 
dated 04.27.2015 No. 311-V). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  5. The competent body shall, on the basis of pr oposals of the expert commission for subsurface 
use issues and within the time period not exceeding five working days of the receipt of a proposal, made a decision to issue (refuse to issue) its permission to the alienation of the right to subsurface use and (or) objects related to the right to subsurface use. 
6. Permission for alienation of the right to subsurface use (its part) and (or) objects related to the 
right to subsurface use shall be granted by the competent body only provided that the following 
conditions are met: 
1) the acquirer of the right to subsurface use (its part) must fully comply with the requirements 
established in this Law for subsurface users and persons seeking to obtain the right to subsurface use; 
2) such transfer will not entail violation of the re quirements of the legislation of the Republic of 
Kazakhstan, including the requirements for ensuring national security in the country, concentration 
of rights within the framework of the contract and (or) concentration of rights for the conducting subsurface use operations as well as international agreements concluded by the Republic of 
Kazakhstan; 
3) the application for granting permission to transf er the right to subsurface use, objects related to 
the right to subsurface use must be consistent with the requirements of paragraph 2 of this Article. 
7. The matter concerning granting the permission of the competent body to the alienation of the 
right to subsurface use (its part), and (or) objects related to the right to subsurface use to a specific person shall be considered separately in ea ch case of such alienation. It shall be prohibited 
to establish in a contract or other act general permission to such alienation at the discretion of the 
subsurface user or its participant (shareholder). 
8. Any refusal to issue permission to a transfer of the right to subsurface use (its part) and (or) an 
object related to the right to subsurface use may be challenged in accordance with the legislation 
of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
9. Refusal to issue the permission for a transfer of  the right to subsurface use in accordance with 
paragraph 2) of this Article shall be given withou t any explanation of the reasons for such refusal. 
10. The right to subsurface use on hydrocarbon feed may not be transferred during the period of 
two years after the effective date of the contract. 
The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply in the following cases: 1) transfer or acquisition of the right to subsurface use by the national management holding, a 
national company or their subsidiaries; 
2) enforcement on the right to subsurface use as collateral; 3) transfer or acquisition of the right to subsurfa ce use within the framework of reorganization of 
the legal entity holding the right to subsurface use; 
4) transfer of the right to subsurface use to th e extent, provided by subparagraphs 2) and 3) of 
paragraph 5 of Article 34 of this Law. 
11. Permission to the alienation of the right to su bsurface use (its part) and (or) an object related 
to the right to subsurface use shall be issued for a term of six months. 
If a transaction is not consummated within an established period, the applicant shall apply to the 
competent body for an extension of the term of the permission for a period not exceeding six 
months or for obtaining a new permission for the execution of the transaction. 
The acquirer of an alienable right to subsurface use (its part) and (or) an object related to the 
right to subsurface use shall be obliged to notify the competent body of a consummated 
transaction within five working days after the date of execution of the transaction. G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  12. Issue (refusal to issue) of permissions by lo cal executive bodies of regions, cities of the 
Republic's significance, the capital and prepar ation of proposals by expert commissions on 
subsurface use matters for exploration or production of widespread mineral deposits for issuance (refusal to issue) of permissions to the transfer of the right to subsurface use for exploration or 
production of widespread mineral deposits and (or) interests (packages of shares) in a legal entity 
holding the right to subsurface use for exploration or production of widespread mineral deposits shall be performed in accordance with the procedure established by this Article. 
Article 38. The transfer of the right to subsurface use and the rights related to them in 
accordance with the procedure of legal successi on under reorganization of a legal entity  
1. The transfer, in accordance with the procedur e of legal succession, of the right to subsurface 
use (parts thereof) and (or) objects related to the right to subsurface use on the basis of an act of 
transfer or separation balance sheet to the extent  of reorganization of a legal entity holding the 
right to subsurface use, or a legal entity which is a participant (shareholder) of a legal entity holding the right to subsurface use, shall only be  allowed on the basis of the permission of the 
competent body or local executive body of a region, a city of republican significance, the capital, 
which shall be granted in accordance with the procedure established by Article 37 of this Law. 
2. The provisions of paragraph 1 of this Article shall not apply in cases of reorganization of the 
national management holding, a national company or its subsidiary, or reorganization of a legal 
entity holding the right to subsurface use by me ans of changing their organizational and legal 
form, and to the extent, provided for in subparagr aphs 2) and 3) of paragraph 6 of Article 36 of 
this Law. 
3. To the extent, set forth in paragraph 2 of th is Article, the competent body shall introduce 
relevant amendments to the contract within one month of the application of the subsurface user. 
Article 39. The transfer of the right to subsurface use and the rights related to them in 
accordance with the procedure of universal le gal succession to the extent of death of a 
natural person  
The transfer, in accordance with the procedure of inheritance, of the right to subsurface use, 
objects related to the right to subsurface use shall be performed through the procedure 
established by the civil legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
Article 40. Termination of the right to subsurface use
29  
1. No one may be deprived of the right to subsurface use other than on the grounds established by 
this Law and other laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
2. The right to subsurface use shall terminate in the following cases: 1) termination of the contract; 
2) expiration of the term or revocation of a perm ission for performance of operations involving the 
construction and (or) operation of underground facilities not related to exploration or production and designated for burial of radioactive waste, harmful substances and waste waters, as well as for 
exploration or production of industrial-technical ground water in volumes of two thousand or more 
cubic meters a day, for granting the right to subsurface use under construction (reconstruction) and repair of general purpose highways, railroads  and hydraulic structures in accordance with 
paragraph 6 and 10 of Article 35 of this Law; 
3) adoption by the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan of a resolution prohibiting to use the 
a portion of subsurface in accordance with Article 14 of this Law; 
4) liquidation of the legal entity holding the right to subsurface use. 
                                               
29 Article 40 as amended by the Law of the Republ ic of Kazakhstan dated 27.04.2012 No. 15-V (shall be 
enforced upon expiry of ten calendar da ys after its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  3. Termination of the right to subsurface use shall serve as the unconditional ground for 
termination of the land use right with respect to the land plot granted for subsurface use purposes. 
Article 41. The procedure for compulsory term ination of the right to subsurface use30  
1. To the extent of enforcement of the right to subsurface use (its part) and (or) objects related to 
the right to subsurface use, including cases of pl edge, the corresponding realization (sale) of the 
right to subsurface use (its part) and (or) the ob jects related to the right to subsurface use shall 
be performed through public auctions unless as otherwise established by this Law. 
Persons that obtained the permission of the co mpetent body or the local executive body of a 
region, a city of republican significance, the capital for participation in an auction for realization (sale) of the right to subsurface use (its part) and (or) objects related to the right to subsurface use shall be allowed to participate in such auction. 
A person intending to participate in a public auction for realization (sale) of the right to subsurface 
use (its part), objects related to the right to subsurface use shall submit to the competent body or the local executive body of a region, a city of republican significance, the capital an application, 
seeking its permission to the participation in the public auction. 
An application for permission to participate in an auction for realization (sale) of the right to 
subsurface use (its part), objects related to the right to subsurface use shall be executed in the 
Kazakh and Russian languages and shall contain the information established in paragraph 2 of 
Article 37 of this Law. 
An application for permission to participate in an auction for realization (sale) of the right to 
subsurface use (its part), objects related to the right to subsurface use shall be considered by the 
competent body or the local executive body of a region, a city of republican significance, the 
capital in accordance with the procedure established by Article 37 of this Law. 
The provisions of this paragraph shall also apply to  cases of realization of bankruptcy State in the 
course of bankruptcy proceedings. 
No additional permission from the competent body or local executive bodies of regions, cities of 
the Republic's significance, the capital for the disposal of the right to subsurface use (its part) and 
(or) objects related to the right to subsurface use shall be required at entering into a transaction, 
based on auction results, involving the disposal of  the right to subsurface use (its part) and (or) 
objects related to the right to subsurface use, wi th a person that obtained the permission of the 
competent body or the local executive body of the region, the city of the Republic's significance, 
the capital to the participation in the public auction. 
2. Claims of a pledgeholder from the value of a pledged the right to subsurface use (its part), 
objects related to the right to subsurface use shall be satisfied through a judicial proceeding. 
3. If an auction for the sale of a pledged the right to subsurface use, objects related to the right to 
subsurface use is declared as having not been held, the pledgeholder may, with the permission of the competent body or the local executive body  of the region, the city of the Republic's 
significance, the capital, turn the pledged proper ty into its property (become the holder of the 
right to subsurface use (its part) and (or) of objects related to the right to subsurface use, or demand that a new auction be announced. 
4. A pledgeholder intending to acquire a pledged the right to subsurface use (its part), objects 
related to the right to subsurface use shall, in th e event that an auction for the sale of the pledged 
the right to subsurface use (its part), objects related to the right to subsurface use is declared as having not been held, submit to the competent body  or the local executive body of the region, the 
city of the Republic's significance, the capital an application, seeking permission to the acquisition 
of the pledged the right to subsurface use (its part ), objects related to the right to subsurface use. 
                                               
30 Article 41 is amended by the Law of the Republic  of Kazakhstan dated 07.03.2014 No. 177-V (shall be 
enforced upon expiry of ten calendar da ys after its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  Applications for granting a permission to the acquisition of a pledged the right to subsurface use 
(its part), objects related to the right to subsurface use, shall be executed in the Kazakh and Russian languages and shall contain the information established in paragraph 2 of Article 37 of this Law. 
Applications for granting a permission to the acquisition of a pledged the right to subsurface use 
(its part), objects related to the right to subsurface use, shall be considered by the competent body or the local executive body of regions, cities of the Republic's significance, the capital in 
accordance with the procedure established by Article 37 of this Law. 
5. Any terms of pledge agreements and other agreements which are inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Article shall be void. 
Article 42. Performing the subsurface use right, connected with technogenic mineral 
formations
31 
Article 43. The exercise of the right to subsur face use for State geol ogical exploration of 
the subsurface32 
1. The State geological exploration of the subsurface may be performed by natural persons and 
legal entities to which the right to subsurface use to perform State geological exploration of subsurface is granted in accordance with paragraph 8 of Article 35 of this Law. 
2. Is removed by the Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271- V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten 
calendar days after its first official publication).  
3. State geological exploration of subsurface may be financed from the budget or from other 
sources which are not prohibited by the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
4. Project documents for works on State geological  studies are approved by the authorized body 
for the study and utilization of mineral resources. 
The provisions of Articles 64 and 65 of this Act do not apply to project documents developed in the 
framework of the State geological study. 
Article 44. Construction and (or) operation of underground facilities not related to 
exploration or production
33 
1. Particularities of conducting construction and (or) operation of underground facilities not related 
to exploration or production, as well as particularities of the procedure for granting the right to subsurface use for construction and (or) operation of underground facilities not related to exploration or production, shall be established by  the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
2. Terms of and procedures for conducting co nstruction and (or) operation of underground 
facilities not related to exploration or production shall be established in the contract. 
3. Construction and (or) operation of underground facilities not related to exploration or production 
shall be subject to the rules of this Law related to  production unless as otherwise stipulated by the 
legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
                                               
31 Article 42 is excluded by Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten 
calendar days after its first official publication). 
32 Article 43 with amendments introduced by Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon 
expiry of ten calendar days afte r its first official publication). 
33 Article 44 with amendments introduced by Law dated 29.09.2014 No. 239-V (shall be enforced upon 
expiry of ten calendar days afte r its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  Article 45. Processing of  mineral raw materials34 
1. Processing of mineral raw materials is an operation which immediately follows production and is 
not a subsurface use operation. 
2. Is excluded by the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 10.07.2012 No. 36-V (shall be 
enforced upon expiry of ten calendar da ys after its first official publication). 
Chapter 4. Granting the right to subsurface use on a tender basis  
Article 46. Portions of subsurface to be tendered35 
1. The competent body shall approves lists of portions of subsurface for granting the right to 
subsurface use for exploration, production, combined exploration and production, as well as lists of portions of subsurface for which the shared participation of the national company is a precondition for tendering. 
Local executive bodies of regions, cities of the Republic's significance, the capital shall approve 
lists of portions of subsurface for which the right to subsurface use for exploration or production of widespread mineral deposits shall be granted. 
The lists of portions of subsurface shall be appr oved on the basis of proposals of the authorized 
body for the study and use of subsurface. 
2. The local executive body of the oblast, the city of republican status, capital produces reservation 
of lands for of subsurface use purposes in the order established by the land legislation of the 
Republic of Kazakhstan  
3. Lists of portions of subsurface subject to tendering that are located within specially protected 
natural areas shall be agreed with the authorized body for specially protected natural areas. 
4. Tenders for granting the right to subsurface use shall be conducted by the competent body or 
local executive bodies of regions, cities of the Republic's significance, the capital in accordance 
with this Law. 
5. The competent body or local executive bodies of  a region, a city of republican significance and 
the capital shall hold a tender and enter into production contracts only after conducting a State expertise of a deposit reserves and co nfirming the presence of reserves. 
Article 47. Terms of conducting a tender for granting the right to subsurface use
36 
1. Information about holding a tender and its conditions shall be published in periodicals circulated 
throughout the entire territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan, simultaneously in the Kazakh and Russian languages. 
All persons wishing to participate in a tender shall have the right to receive information about 
tender procedures before the expiration of the period of submission of bids for participation in the tender. 
2. Notification of a tender for granting the right to subsurface use shall contain the following: 
1) the time and place of the tender as well as the deadline for submission of bids; 2) main terms and conditions of the tender; 
                                               
34 Article 45 as amended by the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 10.07.2012 No. 36-V 
(shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calend ar days after its first official publication). 
35 Article 46 with amendments introduced by Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon 
expiry of ten calendar days afte r its first official publication). 
36 Article 47 as amended by the Law of the Re public of Kazakhstan dated 09.01.2012 No. 535-IV 
(shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calend ar days after its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  3) the location and brief description of the portions  of subsurface to be granted for subsurface use 
operations; 
4) information about the fee for participation in the tender and banking details for its payment; 5) the starting amount of the signature bonus; 
6) the minimum local content in personnel; 
7) the minimum local content in work, services; 8) the minimum amount of costs for training Kazakhstan personnel; 
9) the amount of costs for the research and develo pment work on the territory of the Republic of 
Kazakhstan which are required for the performance of work under the contract. 
3. If necessary, a notification of a tender for granting the right to subsurface use may include a 
condition on the minimum quantity of produced mineral raw materials which a tender participant 
undertakes to process on the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
The minimum quantity of mineral raw materials which a tender participant undertakes to process 
on the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan shall be established by the competent body. 
4. The time period granted to tender particip ants for submission of their applications for 
participation in a tenders for granting the right to subsurface use, including with respect to widespread mineral deposits, may not be less than one month from the date of publication of a 
tender notice. 
5. A period between the date of publication of tender conditions and the date of conducting a 
tender (commencement of summarizing the results) may not be less than four months, and with respect to widespread mineral deposits, it shall be not less than three months. 
6. A fee for participation in a tender shall be non-refundable. 
Article 47-1. Notice of the auction
37 
Notice of the auction shall contain: 
1) the date, time and venue, as well as the time and place of submission of applications; 
2) the basic conditions of the auction; 3) an indication of the location and a brief descrip tion of the subsurface areas that are planned to 
be provided for the conduct of mining operations; 
4) the cost of the geological information package; 5) information on the amount of fee for participation in the auction and bank details to pay for it; 6) the starting size of the subscription bonus; 
7) the amount of local content in personnel; 
8) the amount of local content in works (ser vices), which should not exceed 50 percent; 
                                               
37 Chapter 4 is added by Article 47-1 in accordance  with the Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be 
enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after its firs t official publication); with amendments introduced by 
Law dated 27.10.2015 No. 365-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
- 58 - 
 
  9) the amount of costs for training Kazakhstan's personnel; 
10) the amount of expenditures on social an d economic development of the region and its 
infrastructure; 
11) the amount of expenditure on research and development, science and technology and 
development work in the territory of the Republic  of Kazakhstan, necessary for the performance of 
the contract. 
Auction conditions referred to in subparagraphs 3), 7), 8), 9), 10), 11) of this article, as well as 
the size of the subscription bonus as determined by the results of the auction are included in the 
contract. 
The period between the date of publication of th e conditions of the auction and the date of its 
taking place shall not exceed three months. 
Article 48. Application for participation in a tender for granting the right to 
subsurface use38 
1. Applications for participation in a tender must contain: 
1) for legal entities – the name of the applicant, its location, nationality, information about State 
registration of the legal entity and its registration with tax bodies, information about managers and participants or shareholders of the legal entity app licant, indicating the amount of their interest in 
the charter capital (of the total amount of the charter capital), information about the circulation of 
securities held by the legal entity on an organi zed security market, showing the total set of such 
securities, and information about subsidiaries of the applicant; 
2) for natural persons – the surname and first name of the applicant, legal address, citizenship, 
information about identity documents of the app licant, registration of the applicant with tax 
bodies, registration of the applicant as a subject of entrepreneurial activities; 
3) information about managers or representatives that will represent the applicant, including 
information about the bodies of such persons; 
4) information about the previous activity of the applicant, including a list of the States in which 
the applicant performed its/his/her activities for the past three years; 
5) the name of the a portion of subsurface and the right to subsurface use which the applicant 
seeks to obtain; 
6) a document confirming payment by the applicant of the fee for participation in the tender. Duly certified documents confirming the information included in the application shall be attached to 
the application. 
1-1. The application for participation in the auction shall also include: 1) the applicant's obligation to accede to the Memorandum of Understanding on the 
implementation of the Transparency Initiative of Extractive Industries of the Republic of 
Kazakhstan, with the exception of applications for participation in the auction for the right of 
subsurface use for common minerals; 
2) the applicant's agreement with the auction term s and conditions specified in subparagraphs 3), 
7), 8), 9), 10), 11) of Article 47-1 of this Law and their inclusion in the subsurface use contract to 
be concluded with the auction winner. 
                                               
38 Article 48 with amendments introduced by Laws dated 07.11.2014 No. 248-V (shall be enforced upon 
expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication); dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
- 59 - 
 
  2. The application shall be accepted for consideration provided that the applicants complied with 
the requirements of this Article. The applicatio n which does not meet the requirements of this 
Article shall be rejected. 
3. On acceptance of the application and the admission to participate in the competition the 
applicant is officially notified by the competent au thority or the local executive body of the oblast, 
the city of republican status, capital: 
- within one month from the date of completi on of the acceptance of applications for 
participation in the tender; 
- within ten calendar days after the date of the submission of applications deadline for 
participation in the auction. 
4. Any person who submits an application for participation in the auction has the right before the 
date of the auction to refuse to participate in it and to withdraw his application. 
Article 49. Package of geological informatio n related to the portions of subsurface 
subject to tendering39 
1. Prior to notification of a tender the authoriz ed body for the study and use of subsurface shall 
prepare packages of geological information rela ted to the portions of subsurface subject to 
tendering and determine its cost. The package shall contain the amount of geological, mining-
technical, technological, and other information which is required for the applicant to resolve to 
participate in a tender. 
2. Upon acceptance of applications for partic ipation in a tender the package of geological 
information related to the a portion of subsurface  subject to tendering shall be provided to the 
applicant for a valuable consideration by the authorized body for the study and use of subsurface 
within one month after the application by the applicant. 
The cost of the package of geological information shall be determined on the basis of the historical 
costs. 
The cost of the package of geological information shall not be subject to refunding. 3. An applicant shall have no right to disclose or transfer the received geological information to 
third parties. 
Article 50. A Bid for participation in the tender
40 
1. An applicant admitted for participation in a tender shall, within the time periods established by 
the tender terms, prepare a bid for obtaining the right to subsurface use for exploration, 
production, combined exploration and production. 
2. The competent body or local executive bodies of  a region, a city of republican significance, the 
capital shall, within three months from the date of the announcement of a tender, accept the 
tender bids submitted by the tender participants. 
A tender participant, that has submitted a bid, shall have no right to revoke or amend it after the 
deadline for submission of bids. 
3. A bid shall contain the following: 
1) the proposed amount of the signature bonus; 
                                               
39 Article 49 with amendments introduced by the Laws dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced 
upon expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication). 
40 Article 50 in the text of the Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten 
calendar days after its first official publication); with amendments introduced by Laws dated 27.10.2015 No. 365-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
- 60 - 
 
  2) documents confirming ability to perform obligations related to payment of the Stated signature 
bonus in the full amount (own funds, bank guarantees); 
3) amount of costs for social and economic deve lopment of the region and the development of its 
infrastructure; 
4) obligations related to local content in personnel which content must grow upon performing the 
programs of mandatory training and development of Kazakhstan personnel; 
5) obligations related to training of Kazakhstan personnel; 
6) obligations related to local content in works and services required for the performance of work 
under the contract; 
7) the amount of costs for scientific and research  and development work in the territory of the 
Republic of Kazakhstan required for the performance of work under the contract; 
8) obligations related to the accession to the Me morandum of Understanding with respect to the 
implementation of the Initiative on Transparen t Performance of Extractive Industries in the 
Republic of Kazakhstan prior to the signing of a co ntract, except for the bids for obtaining the right 
to subsurface use with respect to widespre ad mineral deposits and underground waters; 
9) a copy of the document confirming the payment for the acquisition of geological information. If a tender notice contains the indication of a minimum quantity of mineral raw materials which a 
bidder is obliged to process in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the bid shall meet such 
requirement. 
Bids which do not meet the above requirements an d the requirements Stated in subparagraphs 2), 
5), 6), 7), 8) and 9) of paragraph 2 of Article 47 of this Law shall be rejected. 
4. Obligations and intentions proposed by an applicant in its bid shall be included in the contract. 
Article 51. Denial of the right to participate in a tender
41 
A person that submitted an application for participation in a tender may be deprived of the right to 
participate in the tender to the extent as follows: 
1) inconsistency of the application to participate in  the tender with the requirements of Article 48 
of this Law; 
2) inconsistency of the bid with the tender conditions; 
3) submission by the applicant of untrustworthy information; 4) if granting the right to subsurface use to the applicant would result in non-compliance with the 
requirements related to ensuring the country's nati onal security, including in case of concentration 
of rights under a contract and (or) concentration of rights on subsurface use operations. 
Denial of the right to participate in a tender in accordance with subparagraph 4) of this Article shall 
be documented without explanation of the reasons. 
Any denial of the right to participate in a tender may be challenged in a judicial proceeding. 
                                               
41 Article 51 with amendments introduced by Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon 
expiry of ten calendar days afte r its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
- 61 - 
 
  Article 52. Summing up of tender results42 
1. A tender winner shall be determined based on the results of consideration of bids: 1) the amount of the signature bonus; 2) the amount of cost of the social and econom ic development of the region and the development 
of its infrastructure. 
2. A tender winner from among the applicants that submitted bids to obtain the right to subsurface 
use for exploration, production, combined exploration and production of minerals, except for 
widespread mineral deposits, shall be determined by the commission for the holding of tenders for 
granting the right to subsurface use. 
A tender winner from among the applicants that su bmitted bids to obtain the right to subsurface 
use for exploration or production of widespread  mineral deposits, shall be determined by the 
tender commission for granting the right to subsurface use for exploration or production of 
widespread mineral deposits. 
3. Tender results shall be documented in a prot ocol, executed by all attending members of the 
Commission for the holding of tenders for granting the right to subsurface use (tender commission 
for granting the right to subsurface use for exploration or production of widespread mineral deposits). 
The period for summing up the results of a tender shall not exceed fifteen days from the deadline 
for submission of bids. The period for summing up the results of a tender may be extended by the 
decision of the Commission for the holding of tenders for granting the right to subsurface use (tender commission for granting the right to subsurface use for exploration or production of 
widespread mineral deposits), but for not more than one month. 
4. Tender results may be appealed by tender participants in accordance with the procedure 
established by the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
5. A contract with the tender winner shall be executed in accordance with the procedure and on 
conditions established by this Law. 
6. Tender results no later than 5 working days after forming conclusions of the tender shall be 
submitted for publication in official publications in the Kazakh and Russian languages, as well as on 
the official Internet-resource of the State body that conducts the tender. 
Article 52-1. Organization and carrying out of the auction
43 
1. Auction is organized and conducted by the Commission on conducting tenders for the provision 
of right to subsurface use, and in relation to common minerals - regional tender commissions on 
granting subsurface use right for exploration or production of common minerals. 
2. Any applicants admitted to auction, and register ed as an auction participant on the date of its 
taking place may participate in it. 
3. The auction winner becomes the participant who ha s offered the largest size of the subscription 
bonus, after three notices of which there were no suggestions for its increase from other auction 
participants.  
4. The auction results are announced and executed on the day of its taking place by the protocol 
signed by all present members of the Commission for conducting tenders for granting subsurface 
                                               
42 Article 52 in the text of the Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten 
calendar days after its first official publication). 
43 Chapter 4 is added by Article 52-1 in accordance with Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be 
enforced upon expiry of ten calendar da ys after its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  use right (the tender commission for granting right to subsurface use for exploration or production 
of common minerals). 
5. Results of the auction may be appealed by its participants in accordance with the legislation of 
the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
6. The contract with the winner of the auction is concluded in the order and on conditions 
prescribed by this law. 
7. Results of the auction must be submitted for publication in the official publications in the Kazakh 
and Russian languages, as well as posted on the official Internet resource of the State body 
conducting the auction no later than five working days from the date of summing up the auction. 
Article 53. Procedure and grounds for declaring a tender void44 
1. Competition for the right of subsurface use is recognized by the Commission for conducting 
tenders for granting subsurface use right invalid in the following cases: 
1) less than two bids have been submitted; 2) less than two bidders have been admitted to participate in the tender; 
3) is excluded by the Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten 
calendar days after its first official publication). 
The tender commission for the provision of subsurface use right for exploration or production of 
common minerals recognizes tender for subsurface use right invalid only in the absence of a single 
party, with an eligible undenied bid.  
2. A decision on the declaration of a tender void sh all be executed in the form of a protocol of the 
commission for the holding of tenders for granting the right to subsurface use or the tender 
commission for granting the right to subsurface use for exploration or production of widespread 
mineral deposits. 
A decision of the Commission for the holding of tenders for granting the right to subsurface use or 
the tender commission for granting the right to subsurface use for exploration or production of 
widespread mineral deposits on the declaration of a tender void shall be announced to all participants admitted to the tender. 
3. The announcement on the declaration of a tender void shall be published in an official printed 
publication in the Kazakh and Russian languages concurrently, as well as on the official Internet-resource of the authorized body that conducts the tender. 
Article 54. Procedure and grounds for re-tendering
45 
1. Should a tender for the granting of the right to subsurface use is declared failed, the competent 
body or local executive bodies of a region, a city  of republican significance, the capital may make 
one of the following decisions: 
1) on re-tendering; 
2) on amendment of tender documentation and re-tendering. 2. A re-tender shall be held in accordance with the procedure and terms stipulated by this Law for 
holding a tender. 
                                               
44 Article 53 with amendments introduced by the Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced 
upon expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication). 
45 Article 54 with amendments introduced by Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon 
expiry of ten calendar days afte r its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  3. If the contest was declared failed on the ground s provided by paragraph 1 of Article 53 of this 
Law, in re-tendering a fee for participation in the tender and the fee for the provision of geological information package from the applicant, who paid specified amounts in the course of a failed tender, shall not be charged. 
4. To the extent that a re-tender is declared failed due to the only non-rejected tender proposal 
remained, the competent body or local executiv e bodies of a region, a city of republican 
significance, the capital must conclude a contract  with the bidder that submitted such bid through 
direct negotiations on the terms not worse than those Stated in the bid. 
Article 55. Declaring a tender void
46 
1. A tender held in violation of the rules established by this Law may be recognized void under a 
decision of the court. 
The following shall be the grounds for declaring a tender void: 
1) violation of the rules for holding a tender established by this Law, which affected the 
determination of the tender winner; 
2) establishment of the fact that the competent body  or local executive bodies of a region, a city of 
republican significance, the capital have been provided with misleading information, which affected the determination of the tender winner; 
3) changes in the participants or shareholders of  the legal entity recognized as the tender winner 
taking place before the date of the conclusion of a contract; 
4) establishment of the fact that the officials participating in the tender provided unlawful 
advantages to the person recognized as the tender  winner over the other participants of the tender 
(bidders), and (or) liberalization of the terms. 
2. In case of declaring a tender void prior to the conclusion of a contract, no contract shall be 
concluded. To the extent of declaring a tender void  after the conclusion of a contract, the contract 
concluded with the tender winner it shall be declared void in a judicial procedure. 
3. To the extent of declaring a tender void on the grounds Stated in subparagraph (1) of 
paragraph 1 of this Article, the person announced the winner of such tender shall have the right to 
demand refunding of the signature bonus paid. 
The competent body shall notify the State body administering tax and other obligatory payments 
to the budget in writing of the fact of declaring a tender void not through the fault of the person that was declared the tender winner. 
4. The provision of subparagraph (3) of paragraph 1 of this Article shall not apply to the extent as 
follows: 
1) execution of the transactions on alienation of shares or other securities confirming the right of 
ownership of shares or securities convertible into shares circulating in the organized securities 
market of the legal entity reco gnized as the tender winner; 
2) transfer of interest (a share package) in th e legal entity recognized as the tender winner in 
favor of another legal entity, provided that in any such legal entity one person directly or indirectly 
holds not less than ninety nine percent of interest (share packages) and that the acquirer is not registered in a tax-haven country; 
3) transfer of interest (a share package) in the legal entity recognized as the tender winner, if 
such transfer results in the acquisition by a person  of the right to directly or indirectly (through 
                                               
46 Article 55 with amendments introduced by the Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced 
upon expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  third parties) dispose of less than 0.1 percent of in terest (share package) in the charter capital of 
the legal entity recognized as the tender winner. 
Chapter 5. Granting of the right to subsurface 
use on the basis of direct negotiations  
Article 56. Objects of direct negotiations47 
1. The portions of subsurface provided for conducti ng of operations on exploration, production or 
combined exploration and production of minerals, provided in a simplified procedure for 
exploration, other than widespread mineral deposits , on the basis of direct negotiations shall be 
specified by the competent body, except for portio ns of subsurface granted for the performance of 
production operations with a person holding an exclusive right to receive the right to subsurface use for production in connection with a commercial discovery under an exploration contract. 
Contracts shall be concluded without holding a tender on the basis of direct negotiations to the 
extent, established by paragraph 2 of Article 35 of this Law. 
2. On the basis of direct negotiations contracts shall be concluded for granting the right to 
subsurface use for construction and (or) operation of underground facilities not related 
to exploration and (or) production: 
1) facilities which are underground or embedded below the soil layer for storage of oil and gas, 
other than gas filling stations; 
2) tunnels, underground railways, underground underpasses and engineering constructions at the 
depth exceeding three meters; 
3) facilities intended for injection of ground water in subsurface for artificial replenishment of 
reserves; 
4) tailings storages and sludge storages embedded  below the soil layer for burial and storing of 
solid, liquid and radioactive waste, harmful toxic substances and discharge of waste and industrial 
waters into subsurface. 
3. Portions of subsurface provided for subsurface use operations concerning exploration or 
production of widespread mineral deposits on the ba sis of direct negotiations shall be identified by 
the local executive bodies of a region, a city  of republican significance, the capital. 
Article 57. Procedure and terms for holding direct negotiations
48 
1. The persons specified by this Law shall have the right to conclude a subsurface use contract on 
the basis of direct negotiations. 
A person applying for the right to subsurface use on the basis of direct negotiations must meet the 
requirements imposed on subsurface users by this Law. 
2. Direct negotiations for granting the right to subsurface use for exploration, production and 
combined exploration and production of minera ls shall be held by a working group of the 
competent body. The regulations of the working gr oup and its members shall be approved by the 
competent body. 
Direct negotiations for granting the right to subsurface use for construction and (or) operation of 
underground facilities not related to exploration and (or) production shall be held by a working 
group of the authorized body for the study and us e of subsurface. The regulations of the working 
                                               
47 Article 56 with amendments introduced by Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon 
expiry of ten calendar days afte r its first official publication). 
48 Article 57 as amended by the Law of the Republ ic of Kazakhstan dated 10.07.2012 No. 36-V (shall be 
enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication); dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  group and its members shall be approved by the local executive bodies of a region, a city of 
republican significance, and the capital accordingly. 
3. To participate in direct negotiations, a person willing to conclude a contract shall give an 
application to the competent body in accordance  with the requirements established by this 
chapter. 
To the extent stipulated in subparagraph 4) of paragraph 2 of Article 36 of this Law, the local 
executive body of a region, a city of republican  significance, the capital shall reserve lands for 
subsurface use purposes from the moment of be ing notified by the competent body on direct 
negotiations for the right to subsurface use to be held in accordance with the procedure established by the land legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
4. After the receipt of the application for participation in direct negotiations by the authorized body 
for the study and use of subsurface, a package of geological information shall be provided to the 
applicant for a fee within one month from the request. 
5. The competent body shall be obliged to notify th e applicant of the decision either to hold or to 
reject holding direct negotiations within two months of the date of the receipt of the application for 
participation in direct negotiations. 
The competent body shall notify the applicant on the date of holding direct negotiations. 
6. Direct negotiations shall be held during two months following the date of the receipt of the 
application executed in accordance with the requir ements of Article 58 of this Law. The period of 
direct negotiations may be extended by a decision of the competent body. 
7. The provisions of this Article shall apply to  local executive bodies of a region, a city of 
republican significance, the capital in holding direct negotiations for granting the right to 
subsurface use for exploration or production of widespread mineral deposits. 
8. The procedure and conditions for direct negotiations on granting subsurface use right in a 
simplified procedure for the exploration ar e defined in Article 57-1 of this Law. 
Article 57-1. The procedure and conditions  for direct negotiations on granting 
subsurface use rights in a simplified procedure for exploration
49 
1. The right of subsurface use in a simplified procedure for exploration is granted for poorly 
studied areas of the subsurface. 
Subsurface plot provided in a simplified procedur e for exploration shall not exceed ten blocks, each 
of which is equal to one minute in a geographic coordinate system. 
2. For getting the right of subsurface use in a simplified procedure for exploration the applicant 
sends to the competent authority an application, which must contain: 
1) name of a legal entity, its location, nationality, information on State registration as a legal 
entity and registration with the tax authoritie s, information on the managers and members or 
shareholders of the applicant - legal entity with the size of their share in the authorized capital 
(of the total charter capital), information about the handling of the securities of the legal person in 
the organized securities market, indicating the total number of such securities, information about 
the subsidiaries of the applicant; 
2) an indication of the subsurface area is presente d in the form of blocks, for which the applicant is 
applying; 
                                               
49 Chapter 5 is added by Article 57-1 in accordance  with the Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be 
enforced upon expiry of ten calendar da ys after its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  3) a bank guarantee or other evidence about the pr esence of the applicant's money, sufficient to 
meet the requirements on the minimum amount of the costs and types of work that must be done 
within the requested site for the first year after concluding the model contract. 
Shall be accompanied by copies of the docume nts at the same time with the original for 
verification or notarized copies of confirming information indicated in the application, as well as a 
signed model contract. 
The form of the model contract approved by the competent authority and shall contain the 
following main provisions: 
1) the size of spending on social and economic development of the region and its infrastructure 
development, presented in the form of annual increasing payments; 
2) the obligation to pay the signature bonus; 
3) minimal size of costs and types of jobs over the years, need to be performed within a single 
block for the whole duration of the model contract. 
3. The competent authority places on the official Internet resource of information on the submitted 
bids, indicating: 
1) name of the applicant; 2) the origin of the requested area; 
3) application filing time.  
4. If, within five working days after the placement of information on the application submitted on 
the official Internet site of the competent author ity the requested site is additionally applied by 
more than one application, the right of subsurface use for this site is provided in the manner 
provided in this Law for the auction. 
5. The application shall be considered within fifteen working days from the date of its receipt to the 
competent authority. 
After reviewing the application, the competent authority receives a request or rejects it. 
The application must be rejected in the following cases: 1) if the requested section exceeds the size limit set by paragraph 1 of this Article; 
2) if earlier in the requested area or part of it the contract for exploration was unilaterally 
terminated with the applicant or his affiliated pe rson on the initiative of the competent authority 
on the grounds stipulated in Article 72 of this Law, with a termination date of less than three years; 
3) the grounds contemplated in subparagraph 4) of Article 51 and subparagraph 4) of paragraph 1 
of Article 55 of this Law; 
4) if the requested area or part thereof are utilized by another subsurface user.  
The refusal to accept the application does not deprive the applicant of the right to re-apply another 
application. 
6. Direct negotiations are conducted within ten working days after the application. 
7. As a result of direct negotiations mode l contract is concluded with the applicant. G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  8. Subsurface user who received a right of subsur face use in a simplified procedure for exploration 
shall be exempt from the obligations on local content in personnel, goods, works and services. 
Article 58. Application for participation in direct negotiations50 
1. An application for participation in direct negotiations must contain: 
1) for legal entities –name of the applicant, its location, nationality, information about State 
registration as a legal entity and registration with tax bodies, information about managers and 
participants or shareholders of the applying legal entity specifying the amounts of their interests in 
its charter capital (of the total amount of the charter capital), information about the circulation of 
the legal entity's securities on an organized securities market specifying the total set of such securities, information about the applicant's subsidiaries; 
2) for natural persons – the name and surname of th e applicant, his/her legal address, citizenship, 
information about personal identity documents of th e applicant, registration of the applicant with 
tax bodies, registration of the applicant as a participant of entrepreneurial activity; 
3) data on the CEOs or representatives, which w ill represent the applicant, including information 
on the competence of such persons; 
4) data on technical, managerial, organizational and financial capabilities of the applicant to be 
specified in an application by all applicants, except national companies and also persons that apply 
for the right to subsurface use on the basis that they have made a commercial discovery under an 
exploration contract. 
On the demand of the competent body or local exec utive bodies of a region, a city of republican 
significance, the capital, applicants shall additionally provide other information depending on the 
basis on which direct negotiations are held. 
2. An application for participation in direct negotiations on the conclusion of a contract for the 
construction and (or) operation of underground facilities not related to exploration and (or) 
production must be additionally supplemented by documents containing the following data: 
1) general characteristics of the facilities for burial of harmful, toxic substances, solid and liquid 
wastes, place of discharge of waste and industrial water including location of the facilities, period 
of operation, cost of maintenance, availability and location of the monitoring network concerning 
ground water, environment and subsurface; 
2) physical characteristics of the facilities – charac teristics of isolation, type of rocks, depth of 
occurrence and effective thickness of the reservoir be d, its acreage, porosity factor, characteristics 
of the underlying and overlying aquicludes, velocity of natural flow of ground water, qualitative 
and quantitative indices, mine-technical, special geo-technical, hydro-geological and ecological conditions of burial, storage and discharge; 
3) on organizations, the activity of which result s in the formation of harmful, toxic substances, 
solid and liquid waste, waste and industrial water; 
4) characteristics of harmful, toxic substances, solid and liquid wastes, waste and industrial water 
with the specification of the name of the product, the technical production or process resulting in 
the product, its physical characteristics, full ch emical composition, content of toxic components, 
fire and explosion safety, dissolvability, compatibility with other substances in the course of storage, basic contaminating radio nuclides, their intensity, and characteristics of the 
transportation system; 
                                               
50 Article 58 as amended by the Law of the Republ ic of Kazakhstan dated 09.01.2012 No. 535-IV (shall 
be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication), dated 07.11.2014 No. 248-V 
(shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days  after its first official publication); dated 29.12.2014 
No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calend ar days after its first official publication); dated 
27.10.2015 No. 365-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  5) opinion of the authorized body for the study and use of subsurface; 
6) opinion of the State ecological expertise. 3. An application for the right to subsurface use for production must provide: 1) the amount of the signature bonus; 
2) the amount of local content in personnel, procured works and services; 
3) the amount of costs of the social and econom ic development of the region and development of 
its infrastructure; 
4) commitments on teaching Kazakhstan's personnel; 
5) the size of expenditure for scientific-research, scientific-technical and design and development 
works on the territory of the Republic of Kaza khstan, necessary for fulfilling works under the 
contract. 
An application for the right to subsurface use for production by a subsurface user, which is a 
subject of industrial and innovative activity, beside the above mentioned information, must contain a technological program, including the information about the technologies proposed to be used. 
4. Properly certified documents (or their notarized copies) supporting the information specified in 
the application shall be enclosed to the application. 
Article 59. Making decisions on th e results of direct negotiations
51 
1. A decision to grant or to reject the right to subsurface use on the basis of direct negotiations 
shall be made on the basis of the data evidencing  that the applicant is capable of performing its 
obligations under the contract. 
2. The decision of the competent body or local ex ecutive bodies of a region, a city of republican 
significance, the capital following the results of direct negotiations shall be documented by a 
protocol of direct negotiations to be signed by  all attending members of the working group and an 
authorized representative of the applicant. 
3. To the extent that a decision is made to grant the right to subsurface use on the basis of direct 
negotiations, the contract with the applicant shall be concluded in accordance with the procedure and on the terms established by this Law, subjec t to the particularities provided for by this 
chapter. 
The terms of subsurface use operations proposed  by the applicant in the course of direct 
negotiations and accepted by the competent body or  a local executive body of a region, a city of 
republican significance, the capital in the protocol of direct negotiations shall be mandatory 
included into the minutes of direct negotiations and subsequently in the contract. 
4. The requirements of paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of th is Article shall not apply to direct negotiations, 
conducted in the manner prescribed by Article 57-1 of this Act. 
                                               
51 Article 59 with amendments introduced by Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon 
expiry of ten calendar days afte r its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  Article 60. Particularities of granting the ri ght to subsurface use when transiting from 
exploration stage to production stage52 
1. A subsurface user that has discovered and appraised a deposit under an exploration contract 
shall have an exclusive right for execution of a contract for production without holding a tender on 
the basis of direct negotiations. 
2. A person that has made a discovery and apprai sal of a deposit under an exploration contract 
shall have the right to approach the competent body with an application for direct negotiations on 
the conclusion of a production contract during the term of the exploration contract or within a 
period of three months following the date of the completion of the exploration contract. 
3. No later than two months from the date of th e receipt of the application, the competent body 
and the subsurface user shall establish by direct negotiations the following terms of the production 
contract: 
1) the amount of local content in works and services and the personnel; 2) the amount of costs of the social and econom ic development of the region and development of 
its infrastructure. 
An additional condition of the contract for production, concluded with a subsurface user, which is a 
subject of innovative and industrial activity, sh all be the existence of technological program, 
including the information about the technologies proposed to be used. 
4. The parties shall sign a protocol based on the results of direct negotiations. In the event that through the fault of the applicant no contract is concluded within twenty four 
months following the date of the signing of the pr otocol of direct negotiations, the applicant shall 
forfeit its exclusive right to conclude a production contract, and the relevant a portion(s) of 
subsurface may be put up for a tender or granted on the basis of direct negotiations in accordance with the procedure provided for by this Law, subj ect to reimbursement of the exploration costs to 
such person. 
5. A tender shall be held in accordance with th e procedure established by chapter 4 of this Law. 
The necessary conditions for participation in such tender shall be the following obligations of a 
person claiming to conclude a contract: 
1) obligations provided in paragraph 3 of this Article which may not be less than those agreed by 
the parties to the direct negotiations for execution of a production contract as a result of a commercial discovery; 
2) to take necessary measures to maintain the contract area in the condition suitable to perform 
production operations subject to the requirements  of environmental safety and ensuring relevant 
safe conditions in the contract area for the population and personnel starting from the date of the 
determination of the tender winner until execution of a production contract; 
3) to reimburse the person that has made a commercial discovery under an exploration contract 
for the costs of the discovery and appraisal of the a portion of subsurface subject to tendering and 
of maintenance of the contract area in the condition suitable for further production operations in 
compliance with subparagraph 2) of paragraph 11 of this Article. 
Such reimbursement shall be a lump sum of the full amount of such costs adjusted for inflation 
determined on the basis of the official statistical information of the authorized body for State 
statistics. 
                                               
52 Article 60 as amended by the Law of the Republ ic of Kazakhstan dated 09.01.2012 No. 535-IV (shall 
be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication), dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V 
(shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days  after its first official publication); dated 27.10.2015 
No. 365-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  The period for the reimbursement of such costs shall be established by the competent body and 
shall not exceed three months following the date of the execution of a contract with a tender 
winner. 
The tender winner shall have the right to perform an audit of costs to be reimbursed by it. In case 
of any dispute with respect to the amount of reimbursable costs between the tender winner and 
the subsurface user that has discovered and appr aised the deposit under an exploration contract, 
such dispute shall be resolved through legal proceedings. 
6. Is excluded by the Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten 
calendar days after its first official publication). 
7. Is excluded by the Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten 
calendar days after its first official publication). 
8. Is excluded by the Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten 
calendar days after its first official publication). 
9. The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to local executive bodies of regions, cities of 
republican significance, the capital with respect to the transition from the phase of exploration to 
production of widespread mineral deposits. 
10. The subsurface user, discovered and appraised the deposit under an exploration contract and 
applied for direct negotiations on entering into a production contract, shall continue to perform the 
obligations under the relevant exploration contract, work program and project documents. 
In the case of concluding a contract on production on the part of the contract area, provided under 
the contract for exploration, the subsurface user continues execution of obligations on the 
remaining contract territory in accordance with the contract for exploration before its expiration. 
11. Upon termination of the exploration contract, a subsurface user that applied for direct 
negotiations on entering into a production contract, shall be obliged: 
1) to the extent of return of a part (parts) of the contract area, conduct abandonment or 
temporary abandonment of subsurface use facilities in accordance with Article 111 of this Law, as 
well as rehabilitate the land plots and other natural sites damaged as a result of exploration up to 
a condition fit for their further use on the returned part (parts) of the contract area; 
2) Upon the intention to perform production on the entire contract area or a part (parts) of the 
contract area which is (are) not subject to return , take necessary measures, prior to entering into 
a production contract, to maintain the contract area (or parts thereof) in a condition fit for further 
production operations thereon, subject to the re quirements of environmental safety, and ensure 
safe conditions on the relevant contract area (o r parts thereof) for the population and personnel. 
To the extent of a failure to enter into a production contract on the basis of direct negotiations 
with the subsurface user that discovered and appraised the deposit under the exploration contract, 
its obligations to maintain the contract area (or parts thereof) in the condition suitable for further production operations shall be terminated on th e date when a tender winner is determined in 
accordance with this Article. 
12. If within a reasonable time after the contract comes into force, the subsurface user, who 
signed a contract for the production upon tender results will not reimburse a person who discovered and appreciated a deposit, his exploratio n costs in accordance with the requirements of 
paragraph 5 of this Article, such dispute shall be settled in judicial order. 
13. After execution of a production contract based upon the results of direct negotiations or a 
tender conducted in compliance with this Article, the costs incurred by the subsurface user in 
accordance with subparagraph 2) of paragraph 5 an d (or) paragraph 11 of this Article shall be 
charged to the expenses under such production contract and shall be subject to compensation in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan. G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  Chapter 6. Subsurface use contract  
Article 61. Types of subsurface use contracts53 
1. In order to perform subsurface use operations th e following types of contracts shall be used for: 
1) conducting exploration – an exploration contract; 
1-1) conducting exploration by the person to whom the right to explore was granted in a simplified 
procedure - a model contract for exploration 
2) conducting production – a production contract; 
3) conducting combined exploration – a combined exploration and production contract; 
4) conducting construction and (or) operation of underground facilities not related to exploration 
or production – a contract for the construction and (or) operation of underground facilities not related to exploration or production; 
5) conducting the State geological studies of subsurface – a contract (agreement) on the State 
geological studies of subsurface. 
Conclusion, implementation or termination of a contract shall be made in accordance with 
this Law. 
2. The contract, except for the contract (agreement)  for State geological exploration of subsurface 
and the model contract for exploration, is concluded under the form and content, foreseen by the 
model contracts by types of subsurface use, approved by the authorized body.  
The contract must contain the following conditions: The purpose of the contract, the term of the 
contract, the contract territory, privacy, irresistible force. 
A contract must contain the following obligations: on the amount and terms of payment of the 
signature bonus; on the amount and terms of costs of the social and economic development of the 
region and development of its infrastructure; on local content in personnel; on the amount of allocations for training, development and re-training of employees being citizens of the Republic of 
Kazakhstan engaged in the performance of the contra ct or training of citizens of the Republic of 
Kazakhstan according to the list of professions ag reed with the competent body; on local content 
in work, services; on the provision of equal conditions of labour remuneration for Kazakhstan 
personnel compared to engaged foreign personnel, including those engaged in contract work; on 
the amount of expenses for scientific, research  and development work in the territory of the 
Republic of Kazakhstan necessary for the performance of work under the contract. 
Obligations on attracting Kazakhstan's personnel must contain a percentage value of the total 
number of staff involved in the work, including th e personnel engaged in the work of contractors, 
including value by years. Obligations on the size of the local content in works and services must 
include a percentage value of the total number of procured works and services. 
To the extent that a contract is concluded with respect to a portion of subsurface for which a 
contract was earlier terminated, the contract with a new subsurface user must contain obligations to compensate the previous subsurface user and th e trustee for the costs, including the cost of the 
property transferred under paragraph 10 of Article 72 of this Law, as well as the obligation to pay 
the fee to the trustee. 
                                               
53 Article 61 as amended by the Law of the Re public of Kazakhstan dated 09.01.2012 No. 535-IV 
(shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication), dated 29.09.2014 No. 239-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calend ar days after its first official publication); dated 
29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication); 
dated 27.10.2015 No. 365-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  Contract terms must the include amounts of forfeiture (fines and penalties) for any 
non-performance or improper performance by a subs urface user of its obligations, including those 
pertaining to local content in work, services and personnel, and concerning non-tax payments provided for by the contract. 
A contract for production of hydrocarbons must include the obligations of the subsurface user on 
processing (utilization) of associated gas. 
In the case of detecting deposits with large an d unique reserves of minerals provisions of the 
contract for extraction in respect of such deposits shall contain one of the obligations referred to in 
paragraph 4 of Article 71 of this Law. 
The contract may also contain other provisions. 2-1. The contract, concluded prior to 1 January 2015, may contain specific conditions in respect of 
commitments on local content in goods, as well as the size of the penalty (fine, interest) for 
non-compliance, inappropriate compliance by subsurface user with commitments on local content in goods.  
The provisions of this paragraph are applied taking into account provisions of paragraph 4 of 
Article 69 of this Law until the date of expiration of the duration of the contract, or by 1 January 2021, depending on whichever takes place sooner.  
3. Contract terms may not be less beneficial for the Republic of Kazakhstan than those established 
according to the results of direct negotiations or in a bid. 
4. A combined exploration and production contract shall be entered into by a decision of the 
Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan only wi th respect to subsurface use areas or deposits 
(deposits) of strategic significance and (or) complex geological structure. 
Unless as otherwise established by the laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan: 
- for the period of exploration, provisions of the laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan 
provided for an exploration contract shall be applicable to such contract; 
- upon discovery and appraisal of a deposit (deposit) and approval in the established 
procedure of the relevant project documents based upon an exclusive right to 
production in connection with a commercial discovery such contract shall be amended 
to reflect the production stage and thereafter the laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan provided for a production contract shall be applicable to such contract. 
5. Mandatory annexes to a contract except for contracts (agreements) for State geological 
exploration of subsurface shall be a geological or mining allotment and a work program. 
6. The terms of contracts shall mandatory stipulate that the applicable law under the contracts 
shall be the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
7. A contract must be made in the Kazakh and Russian languages. As agreed by the parties to the 
contract, the text of the contract may also be translated into another language. 
8. Control over the performance by subsurface us ers of the terms of contracts for exploration, 
production or combined exploration and production, other than contracts for exploration, 
production of widespread mineral deposits, shall be exercised by the competent body. 
With regard to widespread mineral deposits, control over the performance by subsurface users of 
the terms of contracts for exploration or production  shall be exercised by the local executive body 
of a region, a city of republic an significance, the capital. 
To the extent of a violation by the subsurface user of the terms of the contract, the competent 
body and with regard to contracts for exploration or production of widespread mineral deposits - 
the local executive body of a region, a city of republican significance, the capital by a written G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  notice shall point to the obligation of the subsurface user to cure such violation within the 
established period. 
The period of elimination of violations of the terms of subsurface user contract on the actual 
volume of commitments should not exceed six months, on financial commitments - three months, 
on other terms of the contract - one month from the date of receipt of the written notice. 
Subsurface user may submit to the competent authority a proposal to extend the term of 
elimination of violations of the terms of the contract and the reasons for such extension. As a 
result of the proposal to extend the elimination of violations of contract the competent authority 
shall, within ten days notify the subsurface user of the consent for an extension of the deadline, or provide a reasoned refusal of such extension. 
In the case of obvious inability to eliminate the breach of contract within the period specified in 
this paragraph, the competent authority may establish a period during which elimination of such 
violations is possible.  
9. A contract (agreement) for State geological exploration of subsurface shall be executed in 
accordance with the procedure established by th e Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
Article 62. Preparation of a proj ect of subsurface use contract
54  
1. A project of subsurface use contract shall be prepared by a tender winner or a person, with 
whom the contract is to be concluded on the basis of direct negotiations and shall be agreed with 
the competent body or the local executive body of a region, a city of republican significance, the 
capital through negotiations. 
2. A project of subsurface use contract shall be prepared on the basis of a model contract, protocol 
of direct negotiations or a bid by the winner, application of the winner of the auction and the 
auction protocol.  
The provisions of a project of subsurface use cont ract must meet the requirements applied by this 
Law to contract terms. 
A project of a contract for exploration, combined exploration and production must provide for the 
subsurface user's obligations to prepare appraisal work project in accordance with the 
requirements of this Law. 
3. Draft contract for subsurface use, except for the draft contract (agreement) on the State 
geological studies and the model contract for the exploration project, concluded in the manner prescribed in Article 57-1 of this Law, is subject to mandatory legal examination. Draft contract for 
works on production is also subject to mandatory economic expertise.  
Expertise are carried out for compliance of the contract requirements with the provisions of 
legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
Expertise shall be conducted to check the compliance of the contract provisions with the 
requirements of the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The purpose of economic expertise 
is to check the compliance of the contract terms with the bid on the basis of which the tender was 
won or with the terms of direct negotiations, to appraise economic expediency and social 
implication of the project implementation. 
Expertise results shall be documented in the form of an expert opinion, which may be negative or 
positive.  
                                               
54 Article 62 as amended by the Law of the Republ ic of Kazakhstan dated 15.07.2011 No. 461-IV (shall 
be enforced from 30.01.2012), dated 16.05.2014 No. 203-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of six months after 
its first official publication); dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  A person pretending to conclude the subsurface use contract completes the draft contract in order 
to eliminate comments of the State body expressed in the expert opinion. 
In case of elimination of these comments, the State body shall conduct re-examination. The extent of compliance with the above comments the State body shall conduct a repeated 
expertise. A repeated State expertise shall also be conducted in cases of amendments to project 
and other documentation after the receipt of a positive opinion of the State expertise. 
To the extent of disagreement with the comments of legal and (or) economic expertise a person, 
applying for the conclusion of a subsurface use contract, shall have the right to submit its 
grounded objections to the competent body or th e local executive body of a region, a city of 
republican significance, the capital for their consideration by the conciliation commission. 
The competent body or the local executive body of a region, a city of republican significance, the 
capital shall within ten days from the conciliation commission for consideration of the submitted 
objections. The conciliation commission shall include representatives of the competent body or the local executive body of a region, a city of republican significance, the capital, State bodies which 
submitted their comments and a person applying for the conclusion of a contract. Based on the 
results of the meeting the conciliation commission shall prepare recommendations reflected in the protocol. Subject to the recommendations of the conciliation commission the contract shall be 
submitted for repeated expertise. 
4. Is excluded by Law dated 16.05.2014 No. 203-V (s hall be enforced upon expiry of six months 
after its first official publication). 
5. Is excluded by Law dated 16.05.2014 No. 203-V (s hall be enforced upon expiry of six months 
after its first official publication). 
Article 63. Work program
55  
1. A work program shall be a mandatory part of a contract (annex) of a contract, and contains 
commitments subsurface user needed to achieve th e investment project indicators referred to in 
paragraph 3 of this Article.  
In cases where the right of subsurface use fo r exploration is granted under the simplified 
procedure provided for in Article 57-1 of this Law, the work program is not compiled.  
2. In case of changing the parameters of design documents that affect the investment project 
indicators included in the work program, the work program should be amended accordingly. 
Agreement of changes in the work program due to changes in the project documents shall be 
performed simultaneously with the approval of pr oject documents by the authorized body for the 
study and use of subsurface. The abovemention ed changes in the work program shall be 
introduced by executing an additional agreement to the contract between the subsurface user and 
the competent body or the local executive body of a region, a city of republican significance, the 
capital within thirty calendar days from the date of approval of the work program by the 
authorized body for the study and use of subsurface. 
3. The work program of the period of explor ation should include the following key design 
parameters stipulated by the project documents and the required volume of investments: 
1) the types and volume of exploration work, the timing of their implementation, including the 
types of seismic surveys; 
2) types and amount of assessment work (at the stage of assessment) and the timing of their 
implementation; 
                                               
55 Article 63 in the text of the Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten 
calendar days after its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  3) the amount and timing of exploration drilling (appraisal) wells. 
The working program should include a period of recovery following key design parameters 
stipulated by the project documents and the required volume of investments: 
1) the annual volume of production; 
2) facilities and the terms of their design, construction (structures); 
3) the number of wells planned to be drilled on the contract area, the timing of their completion; 4) list of necessary infrastructure, terms of their design, construction (building-up). 
The working program should also include actions needed to achieve the basic design parameters, 
the distribution of data and an indication of the necessary costs. 
Article 64. Prospecting works project
56 
1. Prior to the signing and registration of an exploration, combined exploration and production 
contract, the tender winner or the person, with which the contract is to be concluded on the basis 
of direct negotiations, shall prepare a prospecting works project. 
A prospecting works project must include the most efficient and intense program for studying the 
area, including modern and high-precision methods of prospecting and laboratory analysis studies, 
which must ensure rational and comprehensive study of a portion of subsurface of the contract area.  
Subsurface user, who receives the right to explore in the simplified procedure provided for in 
Article 57-1 of this Law, independently develops and approves project search operations after the 
signing and registration of the model contract for exploration. 
2. A prospecting work project shall be subject to the following mandatory State ecological 
expertise: 
3. The period of preparing and approval of a pros pecting work project must not exceed six months 
of the date of the signing of th e protocol of direct negotiations for the person, with which a 
contract is to be concluded on the basis of direct  negotiations, following the date of the signing the 
protocol of direct negotiations, and for the person recognized as the tender winner. Duration of the development and coordination of the exploration work may be extended for up to six months, 
when the development and coordination of projec t exploration works were not completed on time 
due to circumstances beyond the control of the tender winner, or of a person with whom the 
contract is concluded on the basis of direct negotiations. 
4. With regard to minerals other than widespre ad mineral deposits, a prospecting work project 
after passing the examination referred to in paragr aph 2 of this Article shall be submitted to the 
central commission, is considered within fifteen working days upon receipt of the project by the central commission and the date approved by the competent authority within fifteen working days 
from the date of receipt of proposal by the central commission. 
A subsurface user who receives the right to expl ore in the simplified procedure provided for in 
Article 57-1 of this Law, independently approves the prospecting works project and sends it to the 
authorized body on the study and use of subsurface. 
 With regard to widespread mineral deposits prospecting work projects shall be considered by 
interregional commission within one month following the date of the receipt of the project by the interregional commission and approved by the territo rial subdivision of the authorized body for the 
                                               
56 Article 64 as amended by the Law of the Republ ic of Kazakhstan dated 15.07.2011 No. 461-IV (shall 
be enforced from 30.01.2012), dated 11.04.2014 No. 189-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar 
days after its first official publication); dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  study and use of subsurface within fifteen workin g days following the date of the receipt of the 
proposal from the interregional commission. 
5. In case of need for changes and (or) addition s to the conditions and the scope of works defined 
by the approved prospecting works project, dr aft amendments and (or) amendments to the 
prospecting works project is prepared, which shal l be considered and approved by the bodies 
specified in paragraph 4 of this Article. 
The subsurface user must be denied the perm ission to introduce such amendments to the 
prospecting work project, unless there is a negative  opinion of one of the expertise, specified in 
paragraph 2 of this Article. 
The period for consideration and approval of amen dments to an appraisal work project shall not 
exceed one month of the date of the receipt by the central commission or the interregional 
commission of the relevant amendments to the prospecting work project. 
Introducing changes and additions to the prospecting works project by the subsurface user, who 
obtained the right to explore in the simplified proc edure provided for in Article 57-1 of this Law, is 
conducted independently. Subsurface user sends to  the authorized body on subsurface study and 
use information on the changes and additions to the prospecting works project. 
6. An approved prospecting work project shall be the basis for development and concluding a 
contract. 
Conducting any work on prospecting of deposits without a prospecting work project approved in 
accordance with the established procedure and also in violation of any requirements of a 
prospecting work project shall be prohibited. 
Article 65. Appraisal work project57 
1. To the extent of discovery of  a deposit, the subsurface user shall be obliged to notify the 
competent body or the local executive body of a region, a city of republican significance, the 
capital thereof within thirty working days. 
The competent body shall issue permission for pr oceeding to an appraisal work stage within one 
month, the local executive body of a region, a city of republican significance, the capital – within 
fifteen working days. 
The confirmation of a discovery and the establis hing of the period for its appraisal shall be 
performed by the competent body or the local exec utive body of a region, a city of republican 
significance, the capital based on the opinion of the authorized body for the study and use of 
subsurface. A commercial discovery shall be announced by the subsurface user. 
2. An appraisal work project shall be subject to the following mandatory expertise: 1) State ecological expertise; 
2) in the sphere of industrial safety; 
3) sanitary and epidemiological expertise. Appraisal work project that does not include the project development of commercial production or 
the project trial operation, is subjec t to the State ecological expertise. 
                                               
57 Article 65 as amended by the Law of the Republ ic of Kazakhstan dated 15.07.2011 No. 461-IV (shall 
be enforced from 30.01.2012), dated 11.04.2014 No. 189-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar 
days after its first official publication); dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  3. An appraisal work project shall be developed for a period required for a complete and 
comprehensive appraisal and estimation of the reserves and identification of mining and geological conditions of deposit bedding, the technological parameters of recovery of minerals and economic viability of its development. 
Appraisal work project must contain a financial part reflecting the costs to be incurred for the work 
on the study and appraisal of a deposit for the entire period of the appraisal work stage. 
4. Appraisal work concerning solid and widespread mineral deposits may include a pilot production 
project. 
Pilot production may also be performed during the production of minerals within the time periods 
and in amounts established in the project documents. 
The scope and period of pilot production shall be agreed according to the results of a preliminary 
expertise of subsurface. 
On widespread minerals, a draft survey and asse ssment work is composed, which is coordinated 
and approved in accordance with the procedure established by this Law. 
Evaluation work on the raw hydrocarbon may include a trial operation project. 
Trial operation project provides temporary operation of drilled exploratory wells. Suggestions about the necessity and timing of the test operation are sent by the central 
committee to the authorized body for the study and utilization of mineral resources. 
5. With regard to minerals except for widespre ad mineral deposits, appraisal work project and a 
pilot production project shall be considered by the central commission within one month following the date of the receipt of the relevant projec t by the central commission and approved by the 
authorized body for the study and use of subsurface within fifteen working days following the date 
of the receipt of the proposals from the central commission. 
A pilot production project shall be considered by the central commission within three months of the 
date of the receipt of the project by the centra l commission and approved by the authorized body 
for the study and use of subsurface within fifteen working days following the date of the receipt of 
the proposals from the central commission. 
With regard to widespread mineral deposits, an  appraisal work project and a pilot production 
project shall be considered by the interregional commission within one month following the date of the receipt of the relevant project by the interre gional commission and shall be approved by the 
territorial bodies of the authorized body for the study and use of subsurface within fifteen working 
days following the date of the receipt of the proposals from the interregional commission. 
6. The period for preparing and approval of an  appraisal work project must not exceed eight 
months following the date of the decision on proceeding to the appraisal work stage. 
Duration of development and coordination the pr oject appraisal work may be extended by the 
competent authority for a period of up to six months, when the development and coordination of the project appraisal work had not been completed on time due to circumstances beyond the 
control of subsurface user. 
7. Where alterations and (or) amendments to th e conditions and scope of work established by 
approved projects are necessary, draft amendments  to the approved projects shall be prepared, 
which shall be considered and approved by the bo dies specified in paragraph 5 of this Article. 
The subsurface user may be denied the permission to introduce such alterations and (or) 
amendments, if there is a negative opinion of on e of the expertise, specified in paragraph 2 of 
this Article. G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  The period for considering and approval of altera tions and (or) amendments to the projects must 
not exceed one month following the date of the re ceipt by the Central Commission or Interregional 
Commission of the relevant project of alterations and (or) amendments. 
8. Conducting any work on the appraisal of deposi ts without an appraisal work project approved in 
accordance with the established procedure and al so in violation of any requirements of an 
appraisal work project shall be prohibited. 
Article 66. Project documents fo r production works performance58 
1. Prior to the signing and registration of a prod uction contract, the tender winner or the person 
with whom a contract is to be entered into on the basis of direct negotiations shall ensure the development of the project documents specified in paragraphs 2 and 3 of this Article.  
Project documents for the extraction of minerals from technogenic mineral formations are not 
developed. 
2. With regard to solid and widespread mineral deposits and underground water the following 
documents shall be prepared: 
1) a project of commercial development of the deposit which shall include the time schedule of 
mining and production work, technical solutions ensuring the specified productivity and other associated production operations; measures ensuring the compliance with the requirements on 
rational and comprehensive use of minerals, personnel operational safety, protection of 
environment; reclamation of disturbed soils, as well as data on funding of the planned work with the breakdown by years; 
2) is excluded by the Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten 
calendar days after its first official publication). 
3. With regard to hydrocarbons the following documents shall be prepared: 1) a pilot development project, prepared for the co mmissioning of specific deposits and formations 
for the purposes of testing new or earlier known technologies which require approbation in 
geological and physical conditions of the deposit, and, if the approbation is positive, its general application in the deposits, terms and volumes of pilot development shall be agreed upon by the 
authorized body for the study and use of mineral resources; 
2) a technological scheme of deposit development; 3) a commercial development project; 4) is excluded by the Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten 
calendar days after its first official publication). 
The order, the sequence, timing of preparation and action of project documents referred to in this 
paragraph shall be determined by the uniform rules for the rational and integrated use of mineral 
resources in exploration and production of mineral resources. 
The industrial development project should contain a section on processing and (or) the utilization 
of associated gas. The feasibility study should include a rationale for the use of associated gas. 
4. The project documents provided by this Article are developed in stages upon their 
implementation in accordance with the uniform rules for the rational and integrated use of mineral resources in the exploration and extraction of mineral resources within the contract period.  
                                               
58 Article 66 as amended by the Law of the Repu blic of Kazakhstan dated 15.07.2011 No. 461-IV 
(shall be enforced from 30.01.2012), dated 11.04.2014 No. 189-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten 
calendar days after its first official publication); dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon expiry 
of ten calendar days after its first official publication); dated 29.10.2015 No. 376-V (is enforced starting from 01.01.2016). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  Project documents, with the exception of project documents for works on mining widespread 
minerals under this Article, are designed with compulsory attraction of design organization on the basis of the agreement, which has the necessary licenses for the design. The contract with the project organization should provide for the obligation of the design organization for the field 
supervision. 
Classification of deposit reserves shall be performed in accordance with the procedure established 
by the authorized body for the study and use of subsurface. 
Project documents should provide a rational and integrated use of the subsoil with the 
requirements of environmental, sanitary -epidemiological and industrial safety. 
5. The project documents for production operations shall be subject to the following mandatory 
expertise: 
1) State ecological; 
2) in the sphere of industrial safety; 3) sanitary and epidemiological; 
4) in the sphere of rational and comprehensive use of subsurface. 
6. The period for development and approving project documents may not exceed twenty one 
months from the date of the signing of the protocol of direct negotiations for the person with 
whom the contract is entered into on the basis of direct negotiations, or from the date of the 
declaring of the tender results for the person recognized as the tender winner. 
Duration of the development and coordination of project documents may be extended by the 
competent authority for a period of up to six months, when the development and coordination of 
the project appraisal work had not been completed on time due to circumstances beyond the 
control of subsurface user.  
7. Deposit development projects for solid minerals  shall be considered by the central commission 
within one month from the date of the receipt of the relevant project by the central commission 
and shall be approved by the authorized body fo r the study and use of subsurface within fifteen 
working days of the date of the receipt of the proposals from the central commission. 
A technological scheme of development and projects for pilot development and commercial 
development of hydrocarbon raw materials shall be reviewed by the central commission within three months from the date of the receipt of hydrocarbon raw materials the technological scheme or projects for pilot development and commercia l development by the central commission and 
shall be approved by the authorized body for the study and use of subsurface within fifteen 
working days of the date of the receipt of the proposals from the central commission. 
Project documents for the development of deposits of widespread mineral deposits provided by 
this Article shall be reviewed by the interregional commission within one month from the date of 
the receipt of the relevant project by the interre gional commission and shall be approved by the 
territorial subdivisions of the authorized body fo r the study and use of subsurface within five 
working days from the receipt of the proposals from interregional commission. 
Deposit development projects with respect to under ground waters at production rate of over two 
thousand cubic meters per day and for injecting thereof in the formation in accordance with the technological scheme of production of minerals shall be reviewed by the central commission within 
one month from the date of the receipt of the relevant project by the central commission and shall 
be approved by the authorized body for the stud y and use of subsurface within fifteen working 
days from the receipt of the proposals from the central commission. G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  8. To the extent of the need to make alteration s and (or) amendments to the terms and scope of 
work established by the approved projects, the pr oject of alterations and (or) amendments to the 
projects shall be prepared, reviewed and approved by the bodies specified in paragraph 7 of this 
Article. 
On the solid minerals, widespread minerals, underearth waters, and therapeutic muds draft 
amendments and (or) additions to the approved projects are not composed if production volumes, determined by the approved projects are changed less than for twenty percent in actual volume 
from the approved design parameters. 
The subsurface user may be denied the permission to introduce such amendments to the project 
documents, unless: 
1) the proposed alterations and (or) amendments are not in compliance with the good practice of a 
deposit development; 
2) the proposed alterations and (or) amendments  are not in compliance with the requirements 
related to rational and comprehensive use of subsurface; 
3) there is a negative opinion of one of the expe rtise, specified in paragraph 5 of this Article. 
The period of consideration and approval of the al terations and (or) amendments to projects shall 
not exceed one month from the date of the receipt by the central commission, ten working says 
from the date of receipt by the interregional commission of the relevant project of alterations and 
(or) amendments. 
9. Approved project documents for production operations shall be the basis for development and 
concluding a production contract. 
10. Conducting any production operations withou t project documents approved in the established 
procedure and in violation of the requirements of such project documents shall be prohibited. 
Production by subsurface user of associated minerals contained in mineral raw materials during 
production, is not considered a violation of the re quirements of project documents provided by the 
contract terms. 
Article 67. Terms of payment of a signature bonus
59 
1. The tender winner for the receipt of the right t o s ub s urfac e us e , the  p ers on with w h om the 
contract is executed on the basis of direct negotiations as well as the person, which executed the contract, shall pay the signature bonus in accordance with the tax legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The payment of the signature bonus in favor of the Republic of Kazakhstan under 
contracts in which the national company acts as subsurface user shall be made by its strategic 
partner, unless the joint operating agreement with such partner provides otherwise. 
2. The control over the timely and full paymen t of the signature bonus shall be performed in 
accordance with the tax legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
3. If the person announced the tender winner fails to timely pay fifty percent of the signature 
bonus amount, the tender commission for granting the right to subsurface use (the tender 
commission for granting of the right to subsur face use for exploration and production of 
widespread mineral deposits) shall have the right to cancel the decision on recognition of such person as the tender winner. 
If the person, with whom the contract is executed  on the basis of direct negotiations, fails to 
timely pay fifty percent of the signature bonus amount, the competent body (the local executive 
body of a region, a city of republican significance , the capital) shall have the right to cancel the 
decision on execution of a contract on the basis of direct negotiations with such person. 
                                               
59 Article 67 with amendments introduced by the Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced 
upon expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  4. If the tender commission for granting the right to subsurface use (the tender commission for 
granting of the right to subsurface use for exploration and production of widespread mineral deposits) cancels its decision on recognition of a person as the tender winner due to the failure of such person to comply with its obligation on payment of fifty percent of the signature bonus 
amount or if the competent body (the local exec utive body of a region, a city of republican 
significance, the capital) cancels its decision on execution of a contract on the basis of direct negotiations with a person that failed to comply  with its obligation to pay fifty percent of the 
signature bonus amount, such person shall forfeit the right for entering into a contract. 
5. The paid signature bonus shall not be returned, to the extent that contract is not entered into 
within the established time period through the fault of the tender winner or the person with whom the contract is executed on the basis of direct negotiations. 
The competent body (the local executive body of th e oblast, the city of republican status, capital) 
shall notify in writing the State body, administering tax and other obligatory payments about the failure to execute a contract through the fault of the tender winner or the person with whom the 
contract is executed on the basis of direct negotiations. 
Article 68. Entering into and registration of the contract
60 
1. The contract must be registered with the competent authority and shall enter into force on the 
date of its registration. 
The competent authority shall maintain a register of State registration of contracts and provides 
storage of a contract. 
Changes and additions to the contract are also subject to mandatory registration with the 
competent authority by making the appropriate entries in the Register of State registration of 
contracts. Changes and (or) additions to the contra ct are recognized as effective from the date of 
their registration. (Paragraph 1 enters into force from 20.11.2014). 
2. The period for conclusion of an exploration co ntract shall not exceed eighteen months from the 
date of the decision of the competent body on th e conclusion of the contract and signing of the 
protocol of direct negotiations for a person with whom the contract is entered into on the basis of 
direct negotiations, or from the date of the a nnouncement of the tender results – for a person, 
who became the tender winner. 
The period for conclusion of a production contract shall not exceed twenty four months from the 
date of the decision of the competent body on th e conclusion of the contract and signing of the 
protocol of direct negotiations for a person with whom the contract is entered into on the basis of 
direct negotiations, or from the date of the a nnouncement of the tender results – for a person, 
who became the tender winner. 
The period for conclusion of a contract may be extended by the competent body if the tender 
winner or the person with whom the contract is executed on the basis of direct negotiations files an application to the competent body for extension of the period for conclusion of a contract with 
justification of the reasons for such extension. 
To the extent that the contract is not concluded within the established period of time through the 
fault of the person claiming to enter into the contract, such person forfeits the right to enter into the contract and no costs incurred by such pers on in acquiring the geological information, 
development and approving project documents, work  programs and the project of a contract shall 
be reimbursed. The competent body shall be entitled to put the relevant portion of subsurface for tender in the procedure established by this Law. 
                                               
60 Article 68 with amendments introduced by the Laws dated 16.05.2014 No. 203-V (shall be enforced 
upon expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication); dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar da ys after its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  3. The contract for the subsurface use is based on the project documents approved by the 
established procedure, as well as the results of mandatory examinations, which allows conclusion of the contract.  
4. A copy of the contract, upon its registration with the competent body, must be delivered to the 
authorized body for the study and use of subsur face, to the authorized body for environment 
protection and to the central authorized body for administration of the budget. 
5. The conclusion of a contract shall be the basis for registration of a land plot with the local 
executive bodies of a region, a city of republican significance, the capital within thirty working days 
after the date of an application of the subsurface  user, except for cases of forced withdrawal of 
land plots (the right to subsurface use) for State needs in accordance with the land legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
Land plots that are owned or held under the land use right by third parties shall be granted in 
accordance with the land legislation of the Repu blic of Kazakhstan. In such event, the spatial 
boundaries of a land plot to be registered shall be limited to the area which is actually used by the 
subsurface user, with disturbance of the land surface during the period of the actual use of the 
land plot. 
6. Conclusion and registration of contracts for exploration and production of widespread mineral 
deposits shall be performed by local executive bodies  of a region, a city of republican significance, 
the capital. 
Article 69. Term of the contract
61  
1. An exploration contract shall be concluded for a term of up to six years. 
The term of an exploration contract for offshore  petroleum operations may be extended by the 
c o m p e t e n t  b o d y  f o r  a  p e r i o d  o f  u p  t o  t w o  y e a r s ,  i f  s i x  m o n t h s  p r i o r  t o  t h e  e x p i r a t i o n  o f  t h e  contract term, the subsurface user files an application to the competent body for extension of the 
contract term with justification of the reasons for such extension. 
T o  t h e  e x t e n t  o f  d i s c o v e r y  o f  a  deposit, the subsurface user shall be entitled to extend the 
exploration contract for a period which is required for its appraisal. 
An application for extension of the contract for the appraisal of a commercial discovery shall be 
considered within one month after its receipt by th e competent body or the local executive body of 
a region, a city of republican significance, the capital. 
Duration of the contract for exploration, production, combined exploration and mining is extended 
by the competent authority for a period of force majeure, if the subsurface user will submit 
evidence of such circumstances, in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
2. Extraction contract is concluded for a period not exceeding twenty-five years, and in deposits 
with large and unique reserves of minerals - not more than forty-five years. Duration the contract 
on production may not exceed the period nece ssary for the full development of reserves.  
The term of a production contract shall be exte nd by the competent body or the local executive 
body of a region, a city of republican significance, the capital, provided that the subsurface user is 
not in violation of its contractual obligations and applied for such extension of the contract to the competent body or the local executive body of a region, a city of republican significance, the 
capital no later than six months before the termination of the operations, providing grounds for 
such extension. An application seeking extension of a contract shall be considered within two 
months after the date of its receipt by the competent body. 
                                               
61 Article 69 with amendments introduced by Laws dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon 
expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication); dated 27.10.2015 No. 365-V (shall be enforced 
upon expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication); dated 29.10.2015 No. 376-V (shall be enforced from 01.01.2016).  G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  The validity of a production contract can be renewed if the use of mineral resources is connected 
with implementation in accordance with the Entr epreneurial Code" of industrial and innovative 
project for the production of products with high added value (higher conversion and processing). 
3. Relevant alterations and (or) amendments shall be made to the contract provided that the term 
of the contract is changed. 
Extension of duration is calculated from the date of registration of the corresponding addendum 
unless the parties have agreed another term. 
4. The contracts signed prior to 1 January 2015 shall be amended and supplemented with the 
exclusion of obligations of the subsurface user on local content in goods. 
Article 70. Territorial scope of a contract62 
1. Within a contract area, there may be one or several a portion of subsurface, either adjacent to 
one another or separate. A portion of subsurface (portions of subsurface) allocated within a 
contract area may be limited to a certain depth. 
2. To the extent that two or more subsurface users conduct subsurface use operations under 
different contracts within one contract area, the procedure for conducting operations within the 
contract area shall be established by an agreement between such subsurface users. 
To the extent that the subsurface users conducting subsurface use operations under different 
contracts within one contract area fail to come to an agreement on this matter, the subsurface 
user which conducts operations for exploration or production of minerals under a contract concluded with the competent body shall have the right to establish the procedure for conducting 
operations in the contract area. 
The subsurface user which conducts operations for exploration or production of widespread mineral 
deposits under a contract concluded with the local executive body of a region , a city of republican 
significance, the capital shall be obligated to observe the procedure for conduct of operations in 
the contract area established by the subsurface user which conducts operations for exploration or 
production of minerals under a contract concluded with the competent body. 
To the extent that two or more subsurface users conduct subsurface use operations within one 
contract area under different contracts concluded with the competent body, the subsurface user 
with which the contract was concluded earlier shall have the right to establish the procedure for conducting operations in the contract area. 
The subsurface user with which the contract was concluded later shall be obligated to observe the 
procedure for conduct of operations in the contract area established by the subsurface user with 
which the contract was concluded earlier. 
The procedure for conduct of subsurface use operations within one contract area established in 
accordance with this paragraph shall be agreed wi th the authorized body for the study and use of 
subsurface. 
3. If conducting subsurface use operations in a portion of subsurface is impossible or difficult or 
may result in excessive costs for the subsurface user without granting him an easement for the 
adjacent or other a portion of subsurface, the person interested in obtaining an easement (applicant for an easement) shall have the right to  apply to a subsurface user whose portion of 
subsurface shall be subject to the creation of  an easement, with a proposal to execute an 
agreement on creation of an easement. 
                                               
62 Article 70 as amended by the Law dated 16.05.2014 No. 203-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten 
calendar days after its first official publication); dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  If an applicant for an easement and the subsurface user fail to agree on the possibility of creation 
of an easement or on the terms of an easement agreement, the person concerned may apply to court. 
An easement shall be subject to registration wi th the competent body and in the case when a 
portion of subsurface is provided for the performance of operations for exploration and production 
of widespread mineral deposits – with the local ex ecutive body of a region, a city of republican 
significance, the capital. 
Creation of an easement shall be prohibited to the extent when such creation may cause a threat 
to the life and health of people or the environment and also when it makes it impossible to carry out exploration and (or) production in the a portion of subsurface. 
Upon creation of an easement for a portion of su bsurface, the easement holder shall be obliged to 
compensate the subsurface user for any losses related to the easement, unless provided otherwise 
by the easement agreement or laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
An agreement on creation of an easement or decision of the court may provide for payment for the 
easement due from the easement holder to the subsurface user. 
An easement is terminated upon expiration of the term for which it was established, or in case of 
termination of the grounds on which it was establis hed, or in the event of waiver of the easement 
holder.  
An easement may not be an independent subject of transactions, including sale and purchase 
transactions and pledge. An easement may pass to other persons only together with the right to 
secure which such easement was created. An easeme nt shall survive in the case of transfer of the 
right to subsurface use or devolution of the right to subsurface use by universal succession with 
regard to a portion of subsurface encumb ered by an easement to another person. 
Creation of an easement for a part of a portion of subsurface shall be the basis for emergence of 
an easement for the land plot in accordance with the land legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan 
when obtaining such easement is necessary. 
4. If in the course of exploration or production of minerals it is revealed that the geographical 
borders of a discovery or a deposit/deposit (whe ther onshore or offshore) extend beyond the 
boundaries of the contract area specified in the geological or mining allotment, the issue of its expansion shall be resolved by the competent body or the local executive body of a region, a city 
of republican significance, the capital for the performance of exploration or production of 
widespread mineral deposits through amendment of the terms of the contract without holding a 
tender in accordance with the procedure and within the terms established by this Law for agreement of the project of a contract and its exec ution unless his territory is free from subsurface 
use. 
5. The conditions and procedures for the return of a contract area shall be established by this Law 
and the contract. 
6. Return of parts of a contract area shall be performed by reissue of the geological allotment, 
excluding the parts of the contract area that are subject to return from the relevant geological 
allotment. 
Article 70-1. Converting the contract territory
63 
1. Subsurface user performing the operation on exploration of solid minerals, has the right to 
apply to the competent authority to issue a permit for converting the contract territory by selection out of it of the plot(s) of mineral resources. 
                                               
63 Chapter 6 is added by Article 70-1 in accordance  with the Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be 
enforced upon expiry of ten calendar da ys after its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  Selecting plot (s) from the contract territory is made by mutual agreement by the conclusion of 
the individual contract in relation to allocated plot (s) making the appropriate changes and (or) 
additions to the contract, from the territory of which the selection is made. 
2. The application for conversion of the contract area shall be made in writing in the Kazakh and 
Russian languages and shall contain: 
1) information about the subsurface user performing operations on subsurface use in the 
converted contract territory (territories): 
- for legal entities - full name, address, nationality, data on State registration as a legal 
entity and registration with the tax authorities, information on managers and their powers; 
- for physical persons - name, legal address, citizenship, information on identity 
documents, registration with the tax authorities; 
2) an indication of the contract, the contract terri tory and region (s) of mineral resources, to be 
allocated from the contract area in a separate contract; 
3) geological, mining, technological and other information justifying the need for the conversion of 
the contract area; 
4) surname and name of the person who signed the Statement, a reference to the authority of 
such person, information about the document certifying his personality; 
5) written confirmation of subsurface user that all information provided in the application and 
attached documents are true. 
Attached to the application duly certified docume nts (or their notarized copies), confirming the 
information supplied. 
All documents attached to the application shall be written in the Kazakh and Russian languages. If 
the application is submitted by a foreigner or a foreign legal entity, such documents may be drawn 
up in a language with mandatory application to each document translation into Kazakh and 
Russian languages, trustfulness of which is certified by a notary. 
3. Resolution on the conversion of the contract  territory is issued by the competent authority 
under the following conditions: 
1) If the requested conversion does not violate the requirements of the Republic of Kazakhstan 
legislation; 
2) If the requested conversion is carried out with a view to rational and integrated use of mineral 
resources. 
4. The issue of the authorization by the competent authority on the transformation of the contract 
territory is considered separately for each case of such a transformation. Establishment in the 
contract or other act permits for the conversion of the contract territory at the discretion of 
subsurface user is not allowed. 
5. Refusal to grant permission for the conversion of the contract territory may be challenged in 
accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
6. In the case of the conversion of the contract  territory by selecting it from the plot (s) of 
subsurface the contract in respect of the plot (s) of subsurface may be concluded for a period not exceeding the term of the contract, from the te rritory of which the plot (s) were selected.  
The provisions of the contract concluded in respect of the selected plot (s) of subsurface, except 
for the conditions of local content, the size of sp ending on social and economic development of the G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  region and its infrastructure, the size of expenditure on education, training and retraining of 
workers who are nationals of the Republic of Kazakh stan, involved in the execution of the contract, 
the size of spending on research and developmen t, science and technology and development work 
in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan, shall be compatible with conditions, which allowed 
granting a permit for conversion by selecting plot (s) of subsurface. 
7. In the case of the conversion of the contract territory the work program, geological and mining 
allotment and project documentation in respect of the contract territory are subject to change in 
accordance with the procedure established by this  Law. The work program, geological or mining 
allotment and project documentation in respect of selected plot (s) is developed under procedure and terms established by this Law. 
8. Subsurface users performing under one contract production at several deposits, some of which 
are included in the list of high-viscoscious, watered, low-margin, low-debeted or depleted fields in 
accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan have the right to apply to the competent authority on the conversion of the contract territory through separation of that (those) 
deposit (deposits) and to enter into a separate contract for extraction in the manner provided by 
this Article. 
9. The provisions of this Article shall not apply to contracts for petroleum operations, referred to in 
paragraph 6 of Article 129 of this Law. 
Article 71. Alterations and (or) amendments to the contract
64  
1. Unless otherwise stipulated by this Law, altera tions and (or) amendments to a contract shall be 
acceptable upon mutual agreement of the parties. 
2. Alterations and (or) amendments of the terms of  a contract at the request of a party shall be 
allowed on the grounds and in accordance with the procedure stipulated by laws of the Republic of 
Kazakhstan and the contract. 
3. To the extent that actions of a subsurface user in the course of subsurface use operations in 
r e l a t i o n  t o  p o r t i o n s  o f  s u b s u r f a c e  ( d e p o s i t s )  h a v i n g  s t r a t e g i c  v a l u e  l e a d  t o  a  c h a n g e  i n  t h e  economic interests of the Republic of Kazakhstan which poses a threat to the national security, the 
competent body may demand an amendment to be made to the contract, including an earlier 
concluded contract, in order to restore the economic interests of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
4. In case of changes in the contract of subsurfa ce use in terms of extending the duration for more 
than ten years in the deposit with major and unique mineral resources the contract provisions 
must be supplemented by one of the follow ing obligations of the subsurface user to: 
1) create processing facilities on their own, th rough the creation of a new legal entity or in 
association with others; 
2) modernize or reconstruct existing extractive industries; 
3) modernize or reconstruct existing processing facilities; 4) provide extracted minerals for processing to the processing plants (production) on the territory 
of the Republic of Kazakhstan on a contractual basis; 
5) implement of the investment project or another project aimed at socio-economic development 
of the region on their own, through the creation of a new legal entity or in association with others. 
If the subsurface use right in respect of such deposit is given to another person, the subsurface 
use contract includes one of the obligations referred to in this paragraph. 
                                               
64 Article 71 with amendments introduced by the Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced 
upon expiry of three months afte r its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  Article 72. Termination of the contract65 
1. A contract shall terminate upon expiration of its term unless the parties agree to extend the 
contract term in the procedure established by Article 69 of this Law. 
2. An early termination of a contract shall be allowed upon the agreement between the parties, as 
well as to the extent stipulated by this Law upon the request of a party. 
3. The competent body may unilaterally terminate a contract before its expiration in the following 
cases: 
1) when more than two violations of the obligations established by subsurface use contract 
specified in the notification of the competent auth ority are not eliminated by the subsurface user; 
2) when the subsurface user transfers its right to subsurface use and (or) objects related to the 
right to subsurface use in cases, specified in para graphs 1 and 3 of Article 36 of this Law, without 
the permission of the competent body, except fo r cases when such permission is not required 
under paragraph 5 of Article 36 of this Law. 
3) failure to present or presentation of false information provided in subparagraph 13-1) of 
paragraph 1 of Article 76 of this Law; 
4) when financial obligations established in the subsurface use contract are performed for less 
than thirty percent for two consecutive years. 
A violation of the contract terms that was fully cured by the subsurface user within the term set in 
the notice from the competent body shall not be a basis for early unilateral termination of the contract. 
3-1. The competent authority unilaterally pr ematurely terminates the model contract for 
exploration in the following cases: 
1) late payment of amounts on the socio-econ omic development of the region and on the 
development of its infrastructure, presented in the form of annually increased payments; 
2) violation of the minimum amount of the costs an d types of work by the years, when need to be 
performed within a single block for the whole duration of the model contract; 
3) the use of provided subsurface area for the purposes not provided for by the model contract. 
4. To the extent provided in paragraph 3 of Article 71 of this Law, the competent body may 
unilaterally terminate the contract in the following cases: 
1) within a period of up to two months after the receipt of a notice from the competent body, 
informing of an alteration and (or) amendment to the contract, the subsurface user fails to confirm 
its permission in writing to the conduct of negotiations to alter and (or) amend the contract terms 
or if it refuses to conduct them; 
2) within a period of up to four months after the receipt of the subsurface user permission to 
negotiate an alteration and (or) amendment to the contract, the parties fail to reach an agreement 
on the amendment to the contract; 
3) within a period of up to six months after the date of achievement of a coordinated decision on 
the restoration of the economic interests of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the parties fail to sign 
alteration and (or) amendment to the contract. 
                                               
65 Article 72 as amended by the Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of 
three months after its firs t official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  5. By the decision of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan the competent body may 
unilaterally terminate a contract, including a contract executed earlier in the case when the actions of the subsurface user in conducting subsurface use operations with regard to a portion of subsurface, deposits of strategic significance resu lt in a change in the economic interests of the 
Republic of Kazakhstan creating a threat to the national security. 
To the extent of unilateral termination of a contract on the said basis the competent body shall 
notify the subsurface user thereof not later than two months prior to such termination. 
6. The local executive body of a region, a city of republican significance, the capital shall have the 
right to unilaterally terminate a contract for exploration or production of widespread mineral deposits to the extent of failure by the subsurface user within the time period set in the notice of 
the competent body to cure more than two violations of the obligations established in the 
subsurface contract. 
A violation of the contract terms that was fully cured by the subsurface user within the term set in 
the notice of the local executive body of a region, a city of republican significance, the capital shall 
not be the grounds for early unilateral termination of the contract. 
7. If as a result of price changes, existing in the market as well as other circumstances beyond the 
control of the subsurface user, the actual costs of the subsurface user become less than those, 
taken into account upon execution of the contract, the approval of the work program and project 
documents but at the same time the physical volume of the obligations of the subsurface user, provided by the contract, work program and projec t documents, is fully performed, such reduction 
of the actual costs of the subsurface user shall not be a violation of the contract terms and the 
grounds for early unilateral termination of the contract. 
7-1. If full or partial performance of an obligation referred to in subparagraph 4) of paragraph 4 of 
Article 71 of this Law, is due to circumstances beyond the control of subsurface user, and he 
undertook all possible measures to provide the extracted minerals for processing, then such failure 
is not a violation of the liabilities and the ground for early termination of the contract unilaterally. 
8. A subsurface user shall have the right to demand early termination of its contract in a judicial 
proceeding or unilaterally repudiate the contract on the bases set forth in the contract. 
9. Termination of a contract shall not release the subsurface user from its obligations to relinquish 
the contract area to the State and to liquidate the consequences of its subsurface use operations in accordance with the requirements of the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
10. Upon early termination of a contract by the competent body, the national company shall 
accept the contract area under its trust manage ment. The facilities and equipment, ensuring 
continuity of the technical processes and industrial safety, shall be transferred by the former 
subsurface user for temporary possession and use by the national company for a term until the 
transfer of such property to a new subsurface user. To the extent of absence of the former subsurface user or if the former subsurface user evades the transfer of the property to the national 
company the competent body shall act as its attorney with respect to such property. 
The competent body shall be obliged to tender the portion of subsurface provided by the contract 
or to conduct direct negotiations. 
11. A typical contract is terminated upon the expiry of its duration, if the parties have not reached 
agreement on its extension. 
Early termination of the model contract is allowed by the agreement of the parties. G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  Article 72-1. Trust management of the contract territory66 
1. In order to maintain a continuous process and industrial safety in the contract territory the 
competent authority within five working days from the date of termination of the contract with the former subsurface user enters into a contract with the national company on trust management of 
the contract territory. 
2. The competent authority shall notify the form er subsurface user on the conclusion of the 
contract on trust management of the contract territory within five working days from the date of 
signing the contract. 
3. The contract of trust management of the contract territory is developed and concluded in 
accordance with the Civil Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
The contract of trust management of the contract territory gives the right to the trustee:  
1) to carry out operations on subsurface use without a contract to carry out mining operations; 
2) obtain land under the right of land use to carry out activities on trust management of the 
contract territory.  
4. Facilities, equipment and other property ensuri ng the continuity of the process and industrial 
safety, are to be transferred by the former subs urface user within one month from the date of 
receipt of the notification by the competent authority of the conclusion of the contract of trust 
management of the contract territory for temporary possession and use by the trustee for the 
period until transferring the property to the new the subsurface user. 
In the absence of the former subsurface user or deviation from the transfer of assets to the 
trustee the competent authority acts as his representative in respect of such property and 
transfers it to the trustee under the act containing the list, which provides an indication of 
condition of the transferred property. 
The costs associated with the use of the property referred to in the first part of this paragraph, 
shall be compensated in accordance with paragraph 5 of this Article. 
5. The trustee shall be entitled to reimbursem ent of expenses incurred by him under the trust 
management of the contract area and confirmed in the established order, from the revenues of its 
use upon presenting the documents confirmi ng the necessity of expenses incurred. 
In the case of such reimbursement of costs, new subsurface user will not reimburse to the trustee 
expenses previously reimbursed in accordance with this article. 
In the absence of income or its insufficiency reim bursement is made at the expense of the founder 
(beneficiary). 
Income from trust management, except for the sums aimed at reimbursement of assets of the 
trustee and payment of taxes related to the execut ion of the contract of trust management, upon 
the results of termination of the trust management agreement are sent to the founder 
(beneficiary). (Paragraph 5 is enforced from 15.07.2010). 
6. Procurement of goods, works and services wi thin the contract of trust management of the 
contract territory of works and services carried out without the application of this Act. 
7. The trustee of his property is liable for the obligations arising from transactions made by him in 
the excess of the authority given to him by the contract of trust management of the contract territory, or in violation of the established restrictions. 
                                               
66 Chapter 6 is added by Article 72-1 in accordance  with the Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be 
enforced upon expiry of three months after its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  8. The land plot is reregistered to the trustee for the duration of the contract for trust 
management of the contract territory, but not exceeding 10 years from the date of its signature.  
Article 73. Grounds for the renewal of an ex ploration, production, combined exploration 
and production contract  
1. The competent body shall have the right to renew in a non-judicial procedure an exploration, 
production, combined exploration and production contract that was earlier terminated at its initiative by taking a decision to resume the contract and cancel the earlier decision on the 
termination of the contract at the initiative of the competent body in the following cases: 
1) the fact is established that the decision on the termination of the contract was taken on the 
basis of inaccurate information, which significantly influenced the decision on the termination of the contract, including to the extent that, as of the date of the decision to terminate the contract 
the subsurface user, for a valid reason, had no documents confirming the performance of its 
contractual obligations; 
2) certain reasons are established and confirmed which are beyond the control of the subsurface 
user and which resulted in a failure to perform, or duly perform under the contract, including Force 
Majeure, that is, emergency circumstances that ar e insurmountable given the existing conditions 
(natural calamities, hostilities, etc.) that directly  affected the failure to perform, or duly perform 
under the contract. 
2. An appeal received from the person whose contract was terminated, or an independent 
establishment by the competent body of the grounds for contract renewal within six months from the date of the decision on the termination of the contract at the initiative of the competent body 
shall be the basis for the consideration by the competent body of the issue of renewal of the 
contract that was earlier terminated at the initiative of the competent body. 
3. A decision of the competent body to renew a contract and to cancel an earlier decision to 
terminate the contract at the initiative of the competent body shall be taken within one month 
after the receipt of an appeal from the person the contract with whom was terminated, or after the establishment by the competent body of the circumstances set forth in paragraph 1 of this Article. 
4. If a decision to renew an exploration, production, combined exploration and production contract 
and to cancel an earlier decision on the termination of the contract at the initiative of the competent body is taken on the bases set forth in paragraph 1 of this Article, the competent body 
and the subsurface user shall, within three months  after the date of such decision, agree and sign 
in the established procedure an additional agreem ent to the contract, which shall settle the issues 
of the renewal of the contract, including the issues relating to the suspension of activities under the contract and liability issues. Following a decision of the competent body, the period for 
approval of and signing an additional agreement to the contract which is stipulated in this 
paragraph may be extended. 
5. A decision of the competent body to renew an exploration or production contract and to cancel 
an earlier decision on the termination of the contra ct at the initiative of the competent body shall 
be notified to the person the contract with whom was earlier terminated within ten working days after its adoption and shall form the basis for re newal by the subsurface user of the activities 
under the contract before the signing of an additional agreement to the contract in accordance 
with paragraph 4 of this Article. 
6. The provisions of this Article shall apply if the local executive body of a region, a city of 
republican significance, the capital resolves to renew the contract for exploration or production of 
widespread mineral deposits. 
Article 74. Declaring a contract void  
1. The grounds for declaring a contract void shall be as follows: 
1) declaring the tender for granting the right to subsurface void; G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  2) the absence of mandatory terms established by this Law in the contract; 
3) it is established that the competent body or the local executive body of a region, a city of 
republican significance, the capital was knowingly provided with inaccurate information, which influenced its decision to conclude the contract with such person; 
4) other grounds, stipulated by the laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
2. A contract, declared void shall entail no legal consequences, except for those relating to its 
voidness, and shall be invalid since the moment of its execution. 
Declaring a contract void shall not release the subsurface user from its obligations to relinquish the 
contract area to the State and to eliminate the effects of its subsurface use operations in accordance with the requirements of the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
3. Declaring a contract void in a judicial proceeding or termination of a contract on the basis of 
which the right to subsurface use was transferred and reissued shall entail the voidness of the 
alterations and amendments to the contract that were adopted in connection with such transfer of the right to subsurface use, but not of the contract itself. 
4. Declaring a contract void shall entail the voidness of all subsequent transactions the subject of 
which is the right to subsurface use granted on the basis of such contract. 
Chapter 7. Rights and obligations of a subsurface user  
Article 75. Rights of a subsurface user  
The subsurface user shall have the right: 1) to take at actions its own discretion relating to subsurface use within the contract area allocated 
to it, in accordance with the terms and conditions provided by the contract; 
2) to use at its own discretion the results of its activities, including mineral raw materials, unless 
as otherwise stipulated by the contract or laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan; 
3) to construct within the contract area and, where necessary, on other land plots allocated to the 
subsurface user in accordance with the established procedure, industrial and social sector facilities 
which are required for the performance of work, and to use facilities and utility systems of general use both within and outside of the contract area on the basis of contracts; 
4) to initiate negotiations on extension of the contract term; 
5) to retain contractors for the performance of certain types of work relating to subsurface use 
operations; 
6) to assign all or part of its rights to other persons in compliance with the conditions established 
by this Law; 
7) to terminate subsurface use operations on the conditions established by this Law or the 
contract. G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  Article 76. Obligations of a subsurface user67 
1. A subsurface user shall be obliged: 1) to perform subsurface use operations in accordance with the contract and the legislation of the 
Republic of Kazakhstan and comply with the requirements established by the legislation of the 
Republic of Kazakhstan for subsurface use operations; 
2) to ensure the safety of human life and heal th and environmental safety in the conducting 
subsurface use operations; 
3) to use the contract area only for the purposes stipulated by the contract; 
4) to choose the most efficient methods and technologies for the conducting subsurface use 
operations, which shall be based on good subsurface use practice; 
5) to proceed with exploration or production on the registration date of the contract unless another 
date is stipulated in the contract; 
6) to observe the terms of the Memorandum of understanding related to the implementation of the 
Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative in the Republic of Kazakhstan, except for contracts for 
ground waters and widespread mineral deposits; 
7) to observe the provisions of project documents and technological schemes relating to the 
performance of subsurface operations that ar e agreed in the procedure established by the 
legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan and that ensure the safety of the life and health of the 
personnel and the population, as well as the rational and comprehensive use of subsurface and environmental protection; 
8) not to prevent other persons from moving freely  within the contract area and use facilities and 
utility systems of general use unless it is connected with special security conditions and unless 
such activities interfere with its subsurface use operations; 
9) to mandatorily use equipment, tools and manufactured goods, produced in the Republic of 
Kazakhstan, subject to their compliance with requirements of the tender and legislation of the 
Republic of Kazakhstan in the field of technical regulation; 
The provisions of this subparagraph work only fo r subsurface users, who concluded subsurface use 
contract before 1 January 2015, until the duration date of these contracts taking into account 
provisions of paragraph 4 of Article 69 of this  Law or by 1 January 2021 depending on whichever 
takes place sooner; 
10) to mandatorily attract Kazakhstan's producers of works, services in conducting subsurface use 
operations, including the use of air, railway, wa ter and other modes of transport, provided that 
such services comply with the standards, pric e and qualitative characteristics of homogeneous 
works and services performed or provided by non-residents of the Republic of Kazakhstan; 
11) to give preference to Kazakhstan personnel in conducting subsurface use operations, except 
for managers and specialists, in attracting of whom within the intercompany transfers in accordance with legislation of the Republic of  Kazakhstan on employment and migration of 
population the number of citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan should be not less than 50 percent 
from the overall number of personnel by each corresponding category;  
                                               
67 Article 76 as amended by the Law of the Re public of Kazakhstan dated 09.01.2012 No. 535-IV 
(shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days from its first official publication), dated 29.09.2014 No. 239-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days from its first official publication); dated 29.12.2014 No. 269-V (is enforced from 01.01.2015); dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be 
enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days from its first official publication); dated 27.10.2015 No. 365-V 
(shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar da ys from its first official publication); dated 29.10.2015 
No. 376-V (is enforced from 01.01.2016); dated 22.01.2016 No. 446-V (is enforced from 11.01.2015). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  12) to carry out in accordance with the contract financing of the training and retraining of citizens 
of the Republic of Kazakhstan; 
Performance of duties specified in this paragrap h are the actual costs incurred by the subsurface 
user to finance the training and retraining of citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan, including for 
acquisition upon the list of goods, works and services needed to improve the material and 
technical base of educational institutions, engaged in the territory of the region, city of republican status, capital training of personnel by occupations directly related to the sphere of subsurface 
use, presented by the local executive body of th e region, city of republican status, capital and 
agreed with the competent authority, as well as the cost of financing of professional training and retraining of personnel in their own learning (training) centers at a legal entity, which is a subsurface user; 
12-1) to annually finance scientific research, scientific technical and (or) design and experimental 
works, performed by Kazakhstan producers of go ods, works and services, and (or) projects of 
participants of innovation cluster «Park of Innovative Technologies» in the amount of not least one 
percent of the total annual income from contractual activity for the previous year. 
In case of overperforming the volume of commitments on financing scientific-research, scientific-
technical, and (or) trial-construction works and (or) projects of participants of innovation cluster 
«Park of Innovative Technologies» upon the results of the current year, the subsurface user 
performs correction (compensation) of the volumes of overperformed commitments for the next reporting periods.  
In the absence of Kazakhstan's producers of research-scientific, research-technical, and (or) 
trial-construction works financing of these works provided by foreign manufacturers, is carried out 
upon the competent authority approval. 
The performance of the obligation on financing of scientific research, scientific technical and (or) 
design and experimental works shall be the actual costs incurred by a subsurface user for the 
abovementioned works, related to the activity with in the scope of the subsurface use contract, as 
well as with the activity, not related to the subsurface use contract, targeted to derivation of 
high-value added production (extractions), studies of ecology, labour safety, accident prevention, 
energy supply within the framework of production activity (technological cycle) and expenditures 
for financing of scientific researches, performed by the subjects of scientific and (or) scientific -technical activity in accordance with the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On science", and the 
elements of industrial and innovative infrastructure in accordance with the Entrepreneurial Code of 
the Republic of Kazakhstan. Submission of money into the autonomous cluster fund in accordance with the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On Innovative Cluster 'Park of Innovative 
Technologies' is also recognized as performance of obligations on financing projects of participants 
of innovation clusters 'Park of Innovative technologies'".  
The provisions of this subparagraph shall not apply to the following types of contracts: 
- for exploration and (or) production of widespread mineral deposits; 
- for exploration and (or) production of underground waters; - for exploration and (or) production of therapeutic muds; - for construction and (or) operation of underground facilities, not related to exploration 
and (or) production; 
13) to provide the competent body or the local ex ecutive body of a region, a city of republican 
significance, the capital with information about the implementation of the work program; 
14) to provide the officials of the controlling bodi es of the Republic of Kazakhstan with necessary 
documents, information and unimpaired access to wo rkplaces in the performance of their official 
duties and timely eliminate any violations revealed by them; G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  15) to submit geological reporting documents on the results of its activities in the contract area to 
the authorized body for the study and use of subsurface; 
16) to pay taxes and to make other obligatory payments to the budget timely and fully; 17) annually no later than 1st of February of the year planned for procurement or not later than 
sixty calendar days from the date of the registration of the subsurface contract, to submit to the 
competent body an annual program for the procurement of goods, works and services for the following year;  
18) annually no later than 1st of February or not later than sixty calendar days from the date of 
the registration of the subsurface contract, to submit to the competent body a medium-term and long-term programs, in the forms and procedure ap proved by the Government of the Republic of 
Kazakhstan, for the procurement of goods, works and services for the forthcoming periods; 
19) each quarter, no later than on the fifteenth day of the month following the reporting period, to 
submit to the competent body reports on procured  goods, works and services and on performance 
of obligations related to local content in the personnel; 
20) each quarter, no later than on the fifteenth day of the month following the reporting period, to 
submit to the competent body reports, on the performance of the obligations related to the 
amount of expenses, allocated for training, advanced-training and re-training of employees – 
citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan, retained for the performance of the contract and (or) 
training of citizens of the Republic of Kazakhst an under the list of professions agreed with the 
competent body; 
21) annually no later than on the fifteenth day of the month following the reporting period, to 
submit to the competent body a report on the performance of the obligations related to local 
content in the personnel; 
21-1) each quarter, no later than on the fifteenth day of the month following the reporting period, 
to submit to the competent body reports, in the approved form and procedure, on fulfillment the 
obligations on financing of scientific research, scientific-technical and (or) design and experimental works; 
22) is excluded by the Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon expiry 
of 10 calendar days after the day of  its first official publication); 
23) unless as otherwise established by the contract, to disclose information about the content of 
subsurface use operations to third parties, as necessary, only upon the common permission of the 
parties, except for the information specified in paragraph 3 of Article 78 of this Law; 
24) to not to damage historic and cultural sites; 25) to restore land plots and other natural sites disturbed as a result of subsurface use operations 
to a condition suitable for their further use in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of 
Kazakhstan; 
26) to forecast the environmental consequences of its activities at a design stage; 
27) to conclude a contract on mandatory ecological insurance; 
28) to include in its balance sheets all pre-existi ng wells within the contract area and monitor 
them; 
29) to ensure organization of monitoring of the condition of the subsurface and control over the 
development of the deposit; G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  30) to notify the competent body about executed transactions for alienation of the right to 
subsurface use to affiliates and other persons as well as interests in the charter capital of the subsurface user or shareholdings within a five day period from the date of the execution of a 
transaction; 
31) to register in the register of goods, works and services, used for the conducting subsurface 
use operations and producers thereof, except for the persons specified in paragraph 7 of Article 77 
of this Law; 
32) to the extent of alterations and (or) amendments to the annual program of procurement of 
goods, works and services, to submit informatio n about such alterations and (or) amendments 
within five working days to the competent body; 
33) at the request of the competent body within th e time period established by it, to submit data, 
information and documentation pertaining to th e performance by the subsurface user of its 
contract obligations; 
34) to conduct clerical work, including internal documentation and set forth transactions executed 
in writing in the Kazakh and Russian languages and to enclose translations into other languages, if 
necessary; 
35) form a liquidation fund to eliminate the consequences of mining operations in the Republic of 
Kazakhstan, as well as to make relevant contributions to it. 
2. A contract may also provide other obligations of the subsurface user not contradicting the 
legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
Article 77. Procurement of goods, works and services in the course of subsurface use 
operations
68 
1. Procurement of goods, works and services in th e course of subsurface use operations shall be 
performed, including by contractors, by  using one of the following methods: 
1) an open tender; 
2) from one source; 3) price proposals; 
4) through the system of electronic procurements; 
5) through commodity exchanges. 2. Is excluded by the Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten 
calendar days from its first official publication). 
3. The procurement of goods, works and services in  the course of subsurface use operations shall 
be performed by using the methods, specified in su bparagraphs 1), 2), 3) and 4) of paragraph 1 of 
this Article, with mandatory application of the re gister of goods, works and services, used in the 
course of subsurface use operations, and their producers, to with application by subsurface users 
of other systems of e-procurement, allocated in  Kazakhstan segment of the Internet network, 
which operation is synchronized with the work of th e register of goods, works and services, used in 
the course of subsurface use operations, and their producers.  
                                               
68 Article 77 as amended by the Law of the Republ ic of Kazakhstan dated 01.02.2012 No. 551-IV (shall 
be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication), dated 29.09.2014 No. 239-V 
(shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days  after its first official publication); dated 29.12.2014 
No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  4. In the procurement of goods, works and services through the methods, specified in 
subparagraphs 1), 2), 3) and 4) of paragraph 1 of this Article, the tender announcement, the 
protocol of the opening of the tender applications, admission for participation in the tender, summarizing of the results shall be subject to placement in the register of goods, works and 
services used in the course of subsurface use operations and their producers. 
In procurement of goods, works and services in ways specified in subparagraphs 1) and 3) of 
paragraph 1 of this Article, procurement notices an d their results must be published in periodicals 
in the Kazakh and Russian languages. 
5. Subsurface users and their contractors, as we ll as persons authorized by subsurface users to 
procure goods, works and services in the course of  subsurface use operations in the Republic of 
Kazakhstan, shall perform procedures related to th e acquisition of goods, works and services by 
using any of the methods specified in paragraph 1 of this Article in the territory of the Republic of 
Kazakhstan. 
6. The costs of the procurement of goods, works an d services used in the course of subsurface use 
operations based on the results of a tender held ou tside of the Republic of Kazakhstan or acquired 
in violation of the procedure for procurement of  goods, works and services in the course of 
subsurface use operations shall be excluded from  the costs considered by the competent body as 
performance by the subsurface user of its contract obligations. 
7. The requirements of this Article shall not apply to: 1) subsurface users performing operations for exploration and production of common mineral 
resources, underground waters and therapeutic muds; 
2) subsurface users performing procurement of goods, works and services in accordance with the 
legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan on State procurement; 
3) legal entities holding the right to subsurface use whose fifty percent of shares (participating 
interests) or more is directly or indirectly owned by the national management holding. 
Article 78. Support for Kazakhstan producers
69  
1. Individual entrepreneurs and (or) legal entities, established in accordance with legislation of the 
Republic of Kazakhstan, with the place of residenc e in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan, 
using not less than 95 percent of citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the total number of 
employees without taking into account the number of managers and specialists, performing working activity on the territory of the Republic of  Kazakhstan within the intercompany transfers in 
accordance with legislation of the Republic of  Kazakhstan on employment and migration of 
population, are recognized as Kazakhstan's producers of works and services.  
The number of managers and specialists, performi ng working activity on the territory of the 
Republic of Kazakhstan within the intercompany transfers in accordance with the legislation of the 
Republic of Kazakhstan on employment and migrat ion of population should not exceed 25 percent 
of the total number of managers and specialists under each corresponding category, and starting 
from 1 January 2022 – not more than 50% under each corresponding category. 
2. The mandatory condition of performing subsurface right is procurement by the subsurface user 
and its contractors pursuant to the requirements of this Law of works and services from Kazakhstan's producers subject to their compliance with the requirements of project document and 
legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the field of technical regulation.  
3. The subsurface user, who concluded a subsurface use contract for subsurface use with the 
authorized body before 1 January 2015, and its contractors are obliged to procure goods from 
Kazakhstan's producers of goods pursuant to requir ements of this Law, subject to their compliance 
                                               
69 Article 78 in the text of the Law dated 27.10.2015 No. 365-V (enters into force upon expiry of ten 
calendar days after the day of its first official publication); dated 29.10.2015 No. 376-V (enters into force from 01.01.2016). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  to requirements of the project document and legisl ation of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the field 
of technical regulation.  
4. The organizer of the tender for procurement of works and services conditionally reduces the 
price of a tender bid of tender participants – Kazakhstan's producers for 20 percent.  
5. In procuring goods within the contracts for subsurface use concluded prior to 1 January 2015, 
the tender organizer in determining the winner shall conditionally reduce the price of the bid of the tender participants – Kazakhstan's producers of goods for 20 percent.  
6. Information, related to performance of contractual obligations in terms of the local content, on 
planning and conduction by the subsurface user of procurement of goods, works and services, and 
also expenses on teaching of Kazakhstan's sp ecialists and expenses on social and economic 
development of the region and development of  its infrastructure is not confidential.  
7. The provisions of paragraphs 3 and 5 of this Ar ticle are applied until the end of duration of these 
contracts taking into account the provisions of paragraph 4 of Article 69 of this Law or until 1 January 2021, depending on whichever takes place sooner.  
Article 79. Implementation of obligations on  development and use of high technologies, 
new and processing production facilities, main and other pipelines, construction and 
joint use of infrastructural and other objects  
Implementation of obligations on development and use of high technologies, new and processing 
production facilities, main and other pipelines, construction and joint use of infrastructural and other objects by a subsurface user shall be perf ormed in accordance with the provisions of the 
subsurface use contract. 
Article 80. Obligations of a subsurface us er upon termination of subsurface use 
operations
70 
1. Upon termination of subsurface use operations, all production facilities of the subsurface user 
and the land plots shall be brought to a condition en suring the safety of the life and health of the 
population and environmental protection, and the co nsequences of the activity of subsurface users 
shall be liquidated in accordance with the procedur e established by the legislation of the Republic 
of Kazakhstan.  
2. To the extent of termination of exploration or pr oduction, as well as of the construction and (or) 
operation of underground facilities not related to  exploration and (or) production, the subsurface 
user shall be obliged to transfer to the authoriz ed body for the study and use of subsurface all 
documents and other physical carriers of geological information. 
Article 81. Ownership of the equipment an d other property of a subsurface user  
1. The issues of transfer of titl e to the equipment and other property, except for money, securities 
and non-industrial property used by the subsurface user for conducting exploration or production, 
shall be established in the contract, unless as otherwise provided by this Law. 
2. Regardless of any transfer of title to eq uipment and other property to the Republic of 
Kazakhstan, the subsurface user shall preserve the obligation to dismantle or remove such 
equipment and other property from the contract area at its own expense during the term of the contract, as well as within one year after the expiration of the contract, except for the cases of transfer of such equipment or other property to another entity in accordance with the notice in 
writing of the competent body or where otherwise is established in the contract. 
                                               
70 Article 80 as amended by the Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (enters into force upon expiry of ten 
calendar days after the day of its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  3. The dismantling and removal of equipment and other property from the contract area, 
regardless of the ownership of such equipment an d other property shall be performed in a manner 
which shall be safe for human life and health and for the environment, and in compliance with the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
Chapter 8. Petroleum operations  
Article 82. Terms of conducting petroleum operations  
1. A subsurface user conducting petroleum operations shall perform such petroleum operations in 
compliance with the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as in accordance with the 
procedure and upon the terms established by the contract. 
2. A subsurface user shall be obliged to be guided  by good practice of deposit development and by 
the requirements of approved project document s in conducting exploration or production. 
3. A subsurface user conducting exploration shall have the right to conduct pilot production of 
deposit reserves. 
The conditions and the period of pilot production shall be established by the authorized body for 
the study and use of subsurface. 
4. Petroleum reserves of a deposit, as well as petroleum recoverability level, shall be subject to 
State expertise of the subsurface and to approval  by the State commission for mineral reserves of 
the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
Article 83. Exploration and pilot prod uction of raw hydrocarbon deposits  
1. Exploration shall include deposit geological and geophysical studies, structural drilling, drilling, 
well sampling and testing of prospecting well s and exploration wells. Exploration shall be 
conducted in accordance with an approved prospecting work project, which shall contain 
arguments supporting the quantity and location of wells and dates of their drilling, as well as the 
tasks to be achieved and the sequence and volume of necessary studies. 
2. In the course of exploration at oil and gas and oil deposits, production testing of wells shall be 
performed in accordance with a pilot producti on project design, approved in the procedure 
established by this Law. 
3. Conducting the pilot production without a pilot production project, approved in accordance with 
the established procedure, or in violation of the requirements set forth in such pilot production design shall be prohibited. 
Article 84. Industrial developm ent of raw hydrocarbon deposits
71 
1. A deposit or accumulation of hydrocarbons, the operation of which in accordance with the 
accepted development method is recognized as profitable for the entire term of its operation shall be recognized as an object of commercial development. 
2. Conducting of the development of hydrocarbon deposits shall be performed in accordance with 
the uniform rules for rational and comprehensive use of subsurface in exploration and production of minerals, approved by the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
                                               
71 Article 84 as amended by the Law dated 11.04.2014 No. 189-V (enters into force upon expiry of ten 
calendar days after the day of its first official publication); dated 29.09.2014 No. 239-V (enters into force upon 
expiry of ten calendar days after the day of its first official publication); dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (enters into force upon expiry of ten calendar days  after the day of its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  3. Commencement of commercial development of a hydrocarbon deposit (accumulation) shall be 
allowed, if: 
1) exploration operations for the oil deposit ha ve been performed, and where necessary, pilot 
production of deposits or pilot development of the selected blocks of the deposit have been 
performed, and for a gas deposit - pilot production of the deposit has been performed; 
2) State expertise of hydrocarbon reserves and other associated components contained therein 
has been conducted and the reserves have been included in the State register of mineral reserves; 
3) the project has been agreed with the authorized body for industrial safety; 
4) project documents for the commercial development have been approved in the established 
procedure. 
4. Commercial development of a deposit shall be pe rformed in accordance with the approved pilot 
development project, the development technolo gical scheme, and the commercial development 
project. 
5. During the performance of the commercial deve lopment of a hydrocarbon deposit, subsurface 
users shall be obliged to ensure full, systematic and high quality conduct and maintenance of 
geological surveys and surveyor's observations and corresponding documentation, safe keeping. 
6. Commercial development or pilot development without relevant project documents approved in 
the established procedure, as well as violation of the requirements set forth in the project 
documents, shall be prohibited. 
7. The performance of any operations related to commercial development without conducting 
monitoring of the condition of the subsurface an d exercising control over the development of the 
deposit shall be prohibited. 
8. A contract for production of natural gas may establish that the competent body shall have no 
right to require and the subsurface user shall not be obliged to commence production of natural 
gas prior to the execution of transactions on delivery of natural gas from the discovered deposit. 
Therewith, the term of the contract shall be inte rrupted until the date of the execution of relevant 
transactions on delivery of natural gas from the discovered deposit of natural gas, unless as 
otherwise provided by the contract. 
To the extent that a subsurface user within the period of one year has not executed any 
transactions on delivery of natural gas, the competent body shall have the right to require that the subsurface user execute a contract for delivery of the subsurface user's natural gas with a third 
party on reasonable terms, including for the purpose of subsequent resale of the delivered gas to 
domestic or foreign consumers, provided that the third party agrees to execute a transaction with the subsurface user. To the extent that the subsurface user and such third party designated by the 
competent body fail to come to an agreement on th is matter, they shall have the right to demand 
resolution of this dispute in a judicial proceeding. 
Article 85. Flaring of associated gas and (or) natural gas
72  
1. Flaring of associated gas and (or) natural gas shall be prohibited, except to the extent of: 
1) a threat of or occurrence of an emergency situ ation, a threat to the life of the personnel or 
health of the population and the environment; 
2) during testing of well facilities, pilot production of deposits; 
                                               
72 Article 85 as amended by the Law of the Republic  of Kazakhstan dated 10.07. 2012 No. 36-V (shall be 
enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication); dated 13.01.2012 No. 542-V 
(enters into force upon expiry of ten calendar days after the day of its first official publication); dated 
29.12.2014 No. 271-V (enters into force upon expiry of ten calendar days after the day of its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  3) during technologically unavoidable flaring of gas in the course of: commissioning of 
technological equipment, operation of technological equipment; maintenance and repair of technological equipment. 
2. In cases provided by subparagraph 1) of paragr aph 1 of this Article and related to any failures 
(deviations) in the operation of technical equipment throughout the whole technological complex of 
operations related to production, collection, preparation and transportation of oil and gas, provided by the approved technological regulations, damaging of mechanisms, equipment and structures, 
associated and (or) gas flaring shall be allowed without permission.  
Therewith the subsurface user shall be obliged within 10 days to provide a written notice of such 
flaring to the authorized bodies for oil and gas,  subsurface study and use, protection of the 
environment. 
Such notice shall contain the reasons why such flaring of associated and (or) natural gas occurred 
as well as information about the volumes of the flared gas. 
3. To the extent, specified in subparagraphs 2) an d 3) of paragraph 1 of this Article, flaring of 
associated gas and (or) natural gas shall be allowed upon the permission of the authorized body 
for oil and gas, agreed with the authorized body for the study and use of subsurface, for environmental protection provided that the subsur face user observes the project documents within 
the limits of the standards and volumes calculated in accordance with the methodology approved 
by the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
The procedure for issuance of permissions for flaring of associated gas and (or) natural gas shall 
be established by the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
4. Flaring of gas during testing of well facilities shall be allowed in accordance with the approved 
project for a period not exceeding three months for each well object. 
Flaring of gas during pilot production of deposits  may be allowed for an aggregate time period, not 
exceeding three years. 
5. Flaring of gas during commissioning of technological equipment shall be allowed during the 
period related to such commissioning work. 
Flaring of gas during maintenance and repair work shall be performed within the regulated 
volumes, exceeding the volumes of technologically unavoidable flaring of gas during operation of equipment. 
6. Is excluded by the Law of the Republic of  Kazakhstan dated 13.01.2012 No. 542-IV (shall be 
enforced from 01.01.2015). 
Article 86. Utilization and processing of associated and (or) natural gas
73  
1. The commercial development of oil and gas deposits without processing and (or) utilization of 
associated and (or) natural gas shall be prohibited. 
2. In order to ensure environmental safety, a subsurface user producing hydrocarbons shall take 
actions aimed at minimizing environmental da mage, minimizing the volume of flaring of 
hydrocarbon gas, and at rational and comprehensiv e use of natural gas, including its processing. 
3. Unless as otherwise provided in the contract, associated gas is the property of the State. 4. Obligations to process natural gas under contracts concluded prior to the enforcement of this 
Law shall be formalized in a separate agreement between the subsurface user and the competent 
body and shall be an annex to the contract for the production, combined exploration and 
production of hydrocarbons. 
                                               
73 Article 86 as amended by the Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (enters into force upon expiry of ten 
calendar days after the day of its first official publication).  G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  5. It shall be allowed at certain deposits where processing of associated gas is inexpedient, to 
utilize it without processing, by using it for technological needs, pumping it into a reservoir to storage, increasing the intraState pressure, followi ng a decision of the authorized body for oil and 
gas, upon agreement with the authorized bodies  for the study and use of subsurface and for 
environmental protection. 
6. Project documentation for commercial development of a hydrocarbon deposit shall include, on a 
mandatory basis, a section on associated gas processing (utilization). 
7. In order to achieve rational use of associated  gas as an important strategic resource of the 
State, subsurface users producing hydrocarbons and the authorized body for oil and gas may jointly perform the implementation of pr ojects on the use of associated gas. 
8. Subsurface users shall provide programs for th e development of processing of associated gas, 
which are subject to approval by the authorized  body for oil and gas and subject to agreement 
with the authorized bodies for the study and use of subsurface and for environmental protection, 
and which shall be updated every three years, for the purposes of rational use of associated gas 
and in order to decrease its harmful environmental impacts by reducing the volumes of its flaring 
or by reinjection into the reservoir (utilization). 
Reports on the completion of programs shall be sent by a subsurface user annually to the 
authorized bodies for oil and gas, for environmental protection and for the study and use of 
subsurface. 
9. Paragraph 1 of this Article shall not apply to subsurface users performing petroleum operations 
under subsurface use contracts concluded prior to1s t of December 2004, until the expiration of the 
periods of implementation of the programs for utiliz ation of associated gas and (or) natural gas, if 
they were approved by (agreed with) a State bo dy prior to1st of December 2004 or agreed with 
the competent body and the authorized body for en vironmental protection prior to1st of July 2006. 
Article 87. Measures for prevention of acci dents and other dangerous situations in the 
course of conducting the petroleum operations  
1. A subsurface user performing petroleum operations in accordance with this Law shall undertake 
all necessary measures to prevent accidents and other dangerous situations creating a threat to 
the life and health of people and to the environment,  as well as a threat of destruction of property 
in the course of petroleum operations, and shall be guided by good practice of deposit development and the legislation of  the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
2. A subsurface user shall develop programs of measures for preventing accidents and other 
dangerous situations in the course of petroleum operations as well as in the construction and operation of oil and gas pipelines, and shall have them approved as a part of project documents. 
Article 88. Raw hydrocarbon deposit construction  
1. The construction of necessary deposit objects and other infrastructure objects required for 
production, treatment, storage and transportation of hydrocarbons from the place of production 
and storage to the place of transfer to the main pipelines and (or) other mode of transportation 
shall be performed in accordance with project do cuments, which shall be approved in accordance 
with the established procedure. 
2. When designing and constructing hydrocarbon deposit construction objects, necessary measures 
for safe operation of such facilities, and for localization and minimization of the consequences of 
possible emergencies shall be taken. 
3. When building of deposit construction faci lities, the sequence of their commissioning as 
established by the project document shall be observ ed, so that it does not result in amendment of 
the project indices in the adopted technological va riation of the development of the deposit and in 
violation of industrial and environmental safety requirements. G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  Article 89. Particularities of exploration and production at border deposits74  
1. If, as a result of conducted exploration or production, the subsurface user discovers that the 
deposit is a border deposit, the subsurface user  shall immediately notify about it the competent 
body. 
2. If no relevant international treaties of the Re public of Kazakhstan have been signed with the 
State on the territory or under the jurisdiction of which a part of such border deposit is located, 
the competent body may demand suspension of ex ploration and production at the border deposit 
until a relevant agreement with that State is reache d. In such event, the contract shall be deemed 
to be interrupted until the time the competent body gives its permission to renewal of exploration and production. 
3. The rules of this Law and other legislation on subsurface and subsurface use of the Republic of 
Kazakhstan shall apply to relations involving explor ation and production at border deposits to the 
extent not contradicting the international treaties to which the Republic of Kazakhstan is a party. 
The procedure for, and the terms of conducting exploration and production at border deposits 
which are established in the international treaties ratified by the Republic of Kazakhstan shall 
prevail over the rules of this Law.  
Article 90. Exploration or production at the deposit as a single object  
1. To the extent that a part of the deposit at wh ich the subsurface user performs its exploration or 
production operations is located within the boundaries of the contract area of another subsurface user, such subsurface users shall be obliged at their option: 
1) to transfer their rights for exploration and (or)  production in compliance with the procedures for 
such assignment that are established for transfer of the right to subsurface use, in such a manner 
that only one subsurface user having the right to conduct exploration and (or) production at the given deposit remains there, or several subsurface users having the right to use subsurface 
partially on the basis of one contract; 
2) to enter into a contract for combined exploration and production at the deposit as a unified 
whole, upon making relevant amendments to pr oject documents and upon preliminary agreement 
of such contract with the competent body. 
2. To the extent that the subsurface users fail to comply with paragraph 1 of this Article, the 
competent body shall have the right to demand in a judicial procedure that  such subsurface users 
enter into a contract for joint exploration and production at the deposit (as a single object). When 
a contract for joint exploration and production is executed, a single work program for the entire 
deposit shall be developed, which shall be subject to mandatory agreement with the authorized bodies for the study and use of subsurface and for environmental protection. 
3. Subsurface users conducting unit exploration and production shall bear joint-and-several liability 
for the performance of the obligations imposed on them by the contract, as well as by the work program. 
Article 91. Safety requirements for co nducting petroleum operations and oil 
transportation
75 
1. Safety in the course of petroleum operations  and petroleum transportation shall be ensured 
through compliance with the established requ irements, implementation of a package of 
organizational and technical measures aimed at protecting human life and health and the 
environment, creation of conditions for safe construction and operation of aboveground and underground structures and equipment, as well as elimination of threatened accidents. 
                                               
74 Article 89 as amended by the Law dated No. 271-V (enters into force upon expiry of ten calendar 
days after the day of its first official publication). 
75 Article 91 as amended by the Law dated 11.01.2014 No. 189-V (enters into force upon expiry of ten 
calendar days after the day of its first official publication); dated 29.09.2014 No. 239-V (enters into force upon expiry of ten calendar days after the day of its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  2. Subjects of technical regulation shall be petroleum and its life-cycle processes. 
3. Equipment and other property used by the subs urface user in conducting petroleum operations 
and petroleum transportation shall comply with  the safety requirements established by the 
technical regulations. 
3-1. Special equipment for oil and oil products spill liquidation must be registered in the authorized 
body for the industrial safety. 
4. The regime of petroleum handling, the design and condition of operation of storage and 
transportation facilities shall comply with the fire safety rules established by the technical 
regulations for petroleum and its life-cycle processes. 
5. Petroleum supplied to oil refineries for refining shall comply with the safety regulations 
established by the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
6. A package of safety measures for performing petroleum operations and oil transportation shall 
be provided with a relevant project document approved in accordance with the established procedure. 
Article 91-1. Informational system of oil accounting
76 
1. Informational oil accounting system is designed for automated data collection, processing, 
storage and use of information on volumes of mining, production, preparation, processing, 
transportation, storage, sale, shipment, loss of importation into the territory of the Republic of 
Kazakhstan and export from the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan oil. 
2. The operator of informational system of oil accounting gathers information to be included in the 
informational oil accounting system, handling, storage, use, including the provision and 
dissemination of information in accordance with the procedure of formation and functioning of the 
informational system of oil accounting, approved by the authorized body in the field of oil and gas. 
3. Enters into force from 01.01.2017 by the Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V.  
4. Enters into force from 01.01.2017 by the Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V. 
Article 92. Construction of wells77 
1. All well construction and commissioning operations shall be performed in accordance with well 
construction programs. Well construction programs shall be subject to agreement with the 
authorized body for industrial safety. 
2. Well construction programs shall be approved by  the competent body in case of construction of 
wells: 
1) with the hydrogen sulphide content in the gas exceeding six percent of the volume; 
2) onshore, with a depth of mo re than five thousand meters; 
3) offshore, with a depth of mo re than four thousand meters; 
4) with the wellhead pressure of more than thirty five megapascals. 
For other types of wells, a construction project shall be approved by the subsurface user. 
                                               
76 Chapter 8 is added by Article 91-1 in acco rdance with the Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V 
(is enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after the day of its first official publication). 
77 Article 92 as amended by the Law dated 11.04.2014 No. 189-V (is enforced upon expiry of ten 
calendar days after the day of its first official pu blication); dated 29.09.2014 No. 239-V (is enforced upon 
expiry of ten calendar days after the day of its first official publication); dated 29.12.2014 No. 269-V (enters into force from 01.01.2015). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  3. The projects intended for the construction of  wells, are developed taking into account the 
specific regulatory requirements for drawing up feasibility studies, as well as the for development, coordination and review of appropriate design  and estimate documentation approved by the 
competent authority in consultation with the authorized government agency for architecture, urban 
planning and construction. 
Chapter 9. Conducting offshore petroleum 
operations and in inland water bodies  
Article 93. General terms of conducting offs hore petroleum operations and in inland 
water bodies
78 
1. A subsurface user conducting offshore petroleum operations shall perform them in such a 
manner so as not to impede or damage marine navigation, fishery or any other lawful activity 
which is usually conducted in a particular part of the sea. 
1-1. Production of works on drilling, production, preparation, and transportation of hydrocarbons in 
the sea and internal water basins should be performed in case he has own emergency-rescue 
service or formation, special equipment and technique for liquidation of oil and oil products spills 
and (or) agreement with specialized organizations on liquidation of oil spills.  
2. Subsurface users conducting offshore petroleum operations shall be guided by the best marine 
environment protection practice. 
3. A mandatory condition of tenders for granting the right to subsurface use to conduct offshore 
petroleum operations shall be shared participation of the national company as a subsurface user of at least fifty percent in a respective contract. 
The right to use the sea bottom for conducting petroleum operations on it shall be granted in 
accordance with a permission issued by the central authorized body for the management of land resources. 
4. A subsurface user conducting offshore petroleu m operations shall be liable for any harm caused 
to the environment and private person and (or) legal entities to the extent of marine pollution resulting from the offshore petroleum operations conducted, notwithstanding the presence of guilt, 
unless it proves that such harm arose due to insuperable force or intent of the affected person. 
5. A subsurface user conducting offshore petrol eum operations shall develop special programs for 
prevention of marine pollution and shall have them approved as part of project documents. 
These programs shall include measures on: 
1) internal control over conducted petroleum operations; 
2) training of personnel; 3) taking wells under control, supply of equipment and materials required in emergency and other 
dangerous situations, and to the extent of marine pollution; 
4) involving other organizations specializing in elimination of accidents in the sea and their 
consequences. 
6. To the extent of marine pollution despite the precautions taken by a subsurface user conducting 
offshore petroleum operations in accordance with a special program for prevention of accidents 
                                               
78 Article 93 as amended by the Law dated 11.04.2014 No. 189-V (is enforced upon expiry of ten 
calendar days after the day of its first official pu blication); dated 16.05.2014 No. 203-V (is enforced upon 
expiry of ten calendar days after the day of its first official publication); dated 29.09.2014 No. 239-V 
(is enforced upon expiry of ten cale ndar days after the day of its first official publication); dated 29.12. 2014 
No. 271-V (is enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after the day of its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  and other dangerous situations, such subsurface user shall take all possible measures to eliminate 
the marine pollution or reduce its level by using all means available for that. 
7. A subsurface user conducting offshore petrol eum operations shall at its own expense arrange 
for transportation from the shore of representatives of State bodies for conducting inspections at 
offshore facilities owned or used by such person, provided that such representatives of State 
bodies are authorized to perform those inspections in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Representatives of State bodies shall conduct inspections at offshore 
facilities in accordance with the procedure esta blished by the Government of the Republic of 
Kazakhstan and shall not hinder normal activities of the subsurface user conducting offshore petroleum operations. 
8. A subsurface user conducting offshore petroleum operations shall not commence the 
construction or deployment of an offshore facili ty without obtaining the written permission thereto 
from the competent body. In order to obtain such permission, the subsurface user shall be obliged 
to file an application with the competent body before the commencement of the planned 
deployment or construction of an offshore facility. Such application shall include a description, 
timing and location of the planned offshore facility  or of the work to be performed for the purpose 
of constructing such offshore facility. The comp etent body shall consider the application of the 
subsurface user conducting offshore petroleum operations and issue a relevant decision no later 
than thirty working days after the submission of such application. 
The rules established in this Article shall apply to natural persons and legal entities performing 
work and (or) providing services for State offshore geological subsurface studies. 
9. The provisions of this Law established for offshore petroleum operations shall apply to 
petroleum operations in inland water bodies. 
10. Particularities of conducting offshore petroleum operations shall be provided for in project 
documents, which shall be approved in the established procedure.  
Article 94. Conducting of petroleum operations within a safety zone  
1. A subsurface user conducting petroleum operatio ns within a safety zone shall conduct them in 
such a manner as to exclude or minimize any marine pollution in case the water level rises. 
2. A subsurface user conducting petroleum operations within a safety zone must develop special 
programs for the prevention of marine pollution and have them approved as part of the project 
documents. These programs shall include measures on: 
1) urgent conservation of exploration or production facilities with a due level of their protection 
against the marine environment; 
2) removal from the flooded area of the stored petroleum, materials, drilling mud and other 
substances which may damage the environment; 
3) localizing pollution focuses and cleaning water to the extent of marine pollution; 4) enabling lawful use of the sea and for other business activities by third parties. 
Article 95. Terms of conducting o ffshore explorations and production
79 
1. A subsurface user conducting offshore exploration shall have the right to commence drilling of 
prospecting and exploration wells only to the extent when all necessary geophysical and seismic studies in the contract area are completed. 
                                               
79 Article 95 as amended by the Law of the Repu blic of Kazakhstan dated 10.07.2012 No.36-V (shall 
be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication), dated 29.09.2014 No. 239-V 
(shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days  after its first official publication); dated 29.12.2014 
No. 271-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  2. The drilling of a prospecting, exploration, or production well, or any other well without the 
written permission from the competent body shall be prohibited, except for drilling of a relief well, when an earlier drilled well goes out of control, provided that no other method of taking such well under control is possible or effective under the given circumstances. In such case the subsurface 
user shall be obliged to notify the competent body  in writing of the commencement of drilling of 
such relief well within a reasonable period of time, indicating the specific circumstances and reasons that influenced its decision to drill such relief well. 
3. The competent body shall issue its permission t o  t h e  d r i l l i n g  o f  a  w e l l  p r o v i d e d  t h a t  t h e  
subsurface user or a contractor engaged by such subsurface user has an appropriate license for drilling operations; that the subsurface user has complied with its mandatory risk insurance obligations with respect to the risks arising in the course of the drilling of the said well; that a 
positive opinion on the well-drilling project has be en issued by the State environmental expertise; 
and that the permission has been issued by the St ate body for the construction or deployment of 
the offshore facility in question. The application shall include or be enclosed appropriate 
documents confirming the facts Stated in the application. 
4. Injection of associated gas or natural gas to maintain the intrastratal pressure shall be 
prohibited unless there is a written permission  thereto issued by the competent body. The 
competent body may issue such permission provided that no other method of maintaining 
intrastratal pressure is efficient and that such injection has a sufficient level of safety for the 
environment and human life, and provided that a positive opinion of the State environmental examination committee with regard to the project, describing such injection, has been issued by 
the authorized body in the sphere of environmental protection. 
5. A subsurface user conducting offshore exploration and production shall have, either at the 
offshore facility or within thirty-minute acce ssibility, appropriate equipment, materials and 
substances in the quantities required for conducting sea cleanup operations. The standards and 
requirements with regard to materials, substanc es, their quantities and availability shall be 
established by Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
6. Programs for the prevention of offshore accide nts and other dangerous situations in conducting 
exploration and production, which shall be approved pursuant to this Law, shall contain certain measures of immediate localization of pollution focus and cleaning of the sea if its pollution occurs. 
Article 95-1. The spill of oil in the sea
80 
1. Oil spills at the sea are divided into three levels: 
1) first level - minor oil spills (not exceeding ten tons), liquidated by the personnel of the structure 
with materials and substances present on the offshore structure subsurface user; 
2) the second level - moderate (average) oil spills (from ten tons to two hundred and fifty tons of 
oil), elimination of which requires necessary resources that are available to the offshore structure subsurface user on the job site, and additional materials, substances and staff of local coastal 
services; 
3) third level - a major oil spill (from two hundred and fifty or more tons), elimination of which 
requires materials, substances and the staff of subsurface user, local shore-based and other organizations on oil spill response, including international, at the expense of a dedicated fund. 
2. Subsurface user performing oil operations, is obliged to approve plans for the prevention and 
response to oil spills at sea, which must comply with regional plans to prevent and respond to oil 
spills at sea, approved by the local executive authorities of the regions in consultation with the 
competent authorities in the field of environmenta l protection, study and use of mineral resources, 
as well as with the professional rescue services and groups. The order, timing and form of approval of plans to prevent and respond to oil sp ills at sea are determined by the National Plan 
                                               
80 Chapter 8 is added by Article 95-1 in acco rdance with the Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V 
(is enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days upon the day of its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  for the Prevention of oil spills and response at sea and inland waters of the Republic of 
Kazakhstan, approved by the authorized body in the field of oil and gas. 
3. In the case of an oil spill at sea, the subsurface  user is obliged in accordance with the legislation 
of the Republic of Kazakhstan on civil protection  immediately inform the territorial subdivisions of 
the authorized bodies in the field of envi ronmental protection and civil protection. 
4. Subsurface user performing oil operations at sea, must have their own equipment and materials 
needed for oil spill response for the first and second levels. In the absence of their own materials 
and equipment needed for oil spill response first and second levels of the subsurface user is 
obliged to conclude a contract with the professional emergency services, operating in the field of oil spills at sea, having equipment and facilities for the timely liquidation of oil spills at sea the first and second levels in the area of oil operations in the sea. 
5. In cases of third level oil spills at sea subsurface user performing offshore petroleum operations 
shall be obliged to conclude a contract with a specialized certified professional rescue organization with equipment and facilities for the elimination of discovered oil and gas blowouts and the third 
level oil spills at sea in the area of oil operations. 
6. Coordination and management of actions to resp ond to oil spills of the third level in the sea is 
performed in the framework of the National Plan fo r the Prevention of oil spills and response at sea 
and inland waters of the Republic of Kazakhstan assigned to interagency State commission for 
prevention and liquidation of emergency situations. 
7. During the spill at sea of oil and its conseq uences preference needs to be given to methods 
focused on maximum protection of human health and the environment. 
8. After the activities on liquidation and localization of oil spills at sea, investigations into the 
causes of accidents, incidents subsurface user submits a report on its work to the competent authorities in the field of environmental protection and in the field of civil protection. 
9. Subsurface user performing oil operations in th e sea, is obliged to fully compensate the damage 
caused to the environment, to third parties as a result of the oil spill on the sea as well as the expenses of the State upon liquidation of oil spill at sea. 
10. The requirements of paragraphs 2, 3 and 4 of th is Article shall also apply in respect of natural 
and legal persons carrying out activities in the sea, connected with the risk of oil spill at the sea. 
Article 96. Construction and operation of offshore oil and gas pipelines
81  
1. A subsurface user performing construction and operation of offshore oil and gas pipelines may 
not commence construction, mounting or installation of oil and gas pipelines without the written 
permission of the competent body. Such permission shall be issued in accordance with the general procedure established by paragraph 8 of Article 93 of this Law. 
2. Compliance with the requirements and standards ensuring the safety of the conducted 
operations for human life and health and for the en vironment shall be provided in the course of the 
construction and operation of offshore oil and gas pipelines. 
3. Particularities of the construction and operation of offshore oil and gas pipelines shall be 
provided for in design documents approved in  accordance with the established procedure. 
Article 97. Prohibition of construction and op eration of offshore storages and reservoirs 
of petroleum  
1. Construction and operation of offshore storages  and reservoirs of petroleum shall be prohibited. 
                                               
81 Article 96 with amendments introduced by the Law dated 16.05.2014 No. 203-V (is enforced upon 
expiry of ten calendar days upon the day of its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  2. Storage and safekeeping of petroleum at offshore facilities shall be prohibited, except for 
temporary (not more than twenty days) storage of  petroleum when such petroleum is transported 
by tankers directly from the offshore facilities. 
Article 98. Artificial islands, dams, constructions and installations82 
1. The Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan shall have the right to permission and regulate 
creation, operation and use of artificial islands, dams, constructions and installations intended for offshore petroleum operations, for scientific research and for any other purposes, under the 
condition of protection and conservation of the natural environment. 
2. Conservation zones shall be established around artificial islands, dams, construction and 
installations, extending for five hundred meters fr om each point of their outer edge. The islands, 
dams, structures and facilities, as well as conservation zones surrounding them, shall be located in 
the places where they cannot hinder operations on the traditional marine routes that are important 
for international navigation and fishery. 
3. Organizations responsible for maintenance and operation of artificial islands, dams, 
constructions and installations shall provide for their security as well as for the availability of 
appropriate means for warning of their location. 
4. Organizations responsible for maintenance and operation of artificial islands, dams, structures 
and installations shall provide for their security as well as for the availability of appropriate means 
for warning of their location. 
5. The creation, operation and use of artificial islands, dams, units and installations, as well as 
other facilities related to petroleum operations shall be performed in accordance with the rules 
approved by the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
Article 99. Discharge and burial  of waste in the course of offshore petroleum operations  
1. The performance of discharge into the sea and burial on the sea bottom of waste in the course 
of offshore petroleum operations shall be prohibited. 
2. Industrial and other waste waters may be disch arged into the sea only upon the permission and 
under control of State controlling bodies, under the condition of their purification up to the 
established standards. 
Article 100. Marine scientific research
83 
1. Marine scientific research may be performed on ly upon the notification of the competent body. 
The procedure for the performance of marine sci entific research shall be approved by the 
Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
2. Marine scientific research may be performed both by Kazakhstan and foreign natural persons 
and legal entities, as well as by foreign gove rnment organizations and competent international 
organizations. 
3. The following principles shall be observed in conducting marine scientific research: 1) marine scientific research shall not create any unreasonable impediments to other entities 
performing the legal use of the sea; 
                                               
82 Article 98 as amended by the Law dated 29.09.2014 No. 239-V (is enforced upon expiry of ten 
calendar days after the day of its first official publication). 
83 Article 100 as amended by the Law of the Re public of Kazakhstan dated 10.07.2012 No. 36-V 
(shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days  after its first official publication); dated 16.05.2014 
No. 203-V (is enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after the day of its first official publication); 
dated 29.09.2014 No. 239-V (is enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after the day of its first official 
publication); dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (is enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after the day of its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  2) marine scientific research shall be performed by using appropriate scientific methods and 
means in compliance with nature protection measures; 
3) all data collected in the course of marine scientific research shall, after their processing and 
analysis, be transferred to the Republic of Ka zakhstan and may not be freely circulated or 
published without the permission of the Go vernment of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
Article 101. Measurement of produced petroleum84 
1. Measurement and weighing of petroleum produced in the contract area shall be performed by 
the subsurface user in accordance with the rules approved by the Government of the Republic of 
Kazakhstan. 
2. The subsurface user shall systematically, at ti me intervals determined in accordance with the 
established procedure and with the participation of a representative of the competent body, 
conduct tests of the equipment and devices used  for weighing and measurement of petroleum. 
3. When it is revealed in a test or inspection that some equipment or devices are defective, then, 
where it is impossible to determine the time when such defect occurred, the period of such defect 
shall be defined as one half of the period of time between the previous measurement and the day 
on which the defect was revealed. 
Chapter 9-1. Processing or other use of 
technogenic mineral formations85 
Article 101-1. General requirements for the processing or other use of technogenic 
mineral formations 
1. Recycling technogenic mineral formations, which are the property of subsurface user or another 
person is not related to subsurface operations. 
2. Recycling technogenic mineral formations, which are under the State property, for the purposes 
of extraction of minerals, except for commonly occurring minerals, is carried out by conclusion of a 
contract for the extraction of minerals from technogenic mineral formations with the competent 
authority. 
3. Other use of technogenic mineral formations, which are under the State property, is carried out 
on the basis of an agreement with the local ex ecutive body of oblast, city of republican 
significance, the capital. 
4. The contract for the extraction of minerals from technogenic mineral formations and the 
contract for the use of technogenic mineral formations are concluded through direct negotiations 
with the relevant government authority in the manner prescribed by this Chapter. 
Article 101-2. The procedure and conditions for direct negotiations on the conclusion of 
a contract for mining minerals from technoge nic mineral formations or a contract for the 
use of technogenic mineral formations 
1. Direct negotiations on the conclusion of a contract for the extraction of minerals from 
technogenic mineral formations are carried out by the working group of the competent authority. 
The position of the working group and its comp osition shall be approved by the competent 
authority. 
Direct negotiations on the conclusion of the contract for the use of technogenic mineral formations 
are carried out by the working group of the loca l executive body of the oblast, the city of 
                                               
84 Article 101 as amended by the Law dated 29.09.2014 No. 239-V (is enforced upon expiry of ten 
calendar days after the day of its first official publication).  
85 The Law is added by Chapter 9-1 in acco rdance with the Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V 
(shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calend ar days after its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  republican status, capital. The position of the wo rking group and its composition shall be approved 
by the local executive body of the oblast, the city of republican status, capital. 
2. To participate in direct negotiations the person applying for the conclusion of a contract for the 
extraction of minerals from technogenic mineral formations or contract for the use of technogenic 
mineral formations, sends a request to the appropriate State authority in accordance with the 
requirements established by Article 101-3 of this Law. 
3. The competent authority or the local executive bo dy of the oblast, the city of republican status, 
capital is obliged to notify the applicant of the decision to hold direct negotiations and the date of 
their conducting or refusal to hold direct negotiations within two months from the date of receipt of the application for participation in direct negotiations. 
4. Direct negotiations held within two months from the date of receipt of the application, made in 
accordance with the requirements of Article 101-3 of this Law. 
Article 101-3. Application for participation in direct negotiations on signing a contract 
for mining minerals from technogenic minera l formation or a contract for the use of 
technogenic mineral formations 
1. Application for participation in direct negotiations on the conclusion of a contract for the 
extraction of minerals from technogenic mineral formations or contract for the use technogenic 
mineral formations shall contain: 
1) for legal entities - name of the applicant, its location, nationality, information on State 
registration as a legal entity and registration with the tax authorities; 
2) for physical persons - name and applicant's name, business address, citizenship, information on 
the identity documents of the applicant, the applic ant for registration with the tax authorities, the 
applicant for registration as a business entity; 
3) data about the heads or representatives who wi ll represent the applicant, including information 
on the powers of such persons; 
4) information on technical, managerial, organizational and financial capabilities of the applicant. 2. The application for participation in direct negotiations on the conclusion of a contract for the 
extraction of minerals from technogenic mineral formations or contract for the use technogenic 
mineral formations shall be accompanied by documents containing the following information: 
1) General characteristics of technogenic mineral formations, indicating that they contain harmful, 
toxic substances, solid and liquid waste disposal sites of sewage and industrial waters, including 
the location of technogenic mineral formations, storage period, maintenance costs, availability and 
location of observation network for monitoring groundwater water and environment; 
2) technology program, including information on the proposed use of technologies and to activities 
that involves the formation of harmful, toxic substances, solid and liquid waste, waste water and 
industrial water; 
3) characterization of harmful, toxic substances, solid and liquid waste, waste water and industrial 
water, indicating the name of the product, a technical manufacturing or process in which it is 
formed, its physical characteristics, total chemical composition, the content of toxic components, flammability, explosivity, solubility, compatibility with other substances during storage, main polluting radionuclides, their activity and transportation characteristics of the system; 
4) conclusion of the authorized body for the study and utilization of mineral resources; 
5) the conclusion of the State ecological expertise. G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  3. Application for participation in direct negotiations on the conclusion of a contract for the 
extraction of minerals from technogenic mineral formations must include the size of the subscription bonus. 
4. Shall be accompanied by duly certified documents (or their notarized copies), confirming the 
information specified in the application. 
Article 101-4. Making decisions on the basis of  direct negotiations on signing a contract 
for mining minerals from technogenic minera l formations or a contract for the use of 
technogenic mineral formations 
1. The decision to conclude a contract for the extraction of minerals from technogenic mineral 
formations or contract for the use of technogenic mineral formations or refusal of their conclusion on the basis of direct negotiations was adopted on the basis of evidence of the possibility of 
execution of the applicant obligations under the contract or agreement. 
2. The decision of the competent authority or the lo cal executive body of oblast, city of republican 
significance, the capital on the basis of direct negotiations in the protocol direct negotiations, 
which is signed by all members of the working group. 
If a decision on the conclusion of a contract for the extraction of minerals from technogenic 
mineral formations or contract for the use technogenic mineral formations on the basis of direct 
negotiations to direct negotiations protocol  signed by the applicant or his authorized 
representative. 
The date of the decision on the basis of direct negotiations shall be the date of signing the protocol 
direct negotiations. 
The competent authority or the local executive body of oblast, city of republican significance, the 
capital shall notify the applicant of the decision taken on the basis of direct negotiations within a period of not more than ten days from the date of signing the protocol direct negotiations. 
3. In the case of the decision to grant the app licant the right to mining of technogenic mineral 
formations or other use technogenic mineral formations on the basis of direct negotiations the contract on extraction of minerals from technogenic mineral formations or contract for the use 
technogenic mineral formations is concluded within the ten days from the date of notification of 
the applicant about decision. 
Chapter 10. Main pipeline transport
86 
Chapter 11. Protection of subsurface and environment, 
rational and comprehensive use of subsurface, 
safety of the population and personnel  
Article 107. Tasks of the protection of su bsurface and environment, rational and 
comprehensive use of subsurface  
The protection of subsurface and environment, ra tional and comprehensive use of subsurface shall 
include a system of legal, organizational, econ omic, technological and other measures aimed at: 
1) protection of the life and health of the population; 
2) rational and comprehensive use of subsurface resources; 3) preservation of natural landscapes and reclamation of disturbed land and other 
geomorphological structures; 
                                               
86 Chapter 10 was excluded by the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 22.06.2012 No. 21-V 
(shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calend ar days after its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  4) preservation of properties of the energy Stat e of the upper parts of subsurface for the purpose 
of prevention of earthquakes, landslips, flooding, and soil subsidence; 
5) ensuring preservation of the natural State of water bodies. Article 108. General environment requirements  
At all stages of subsurface use, including foreca sting, planning, and designing, the environmental 
requirements established by the environmental legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan shall be complied with on the priority basis. 
Article 109. Ecological basis for co nducting subsurface use operations
87 
1. The ecological basis for conduction subsurface use operations shall be formed by the positive 
opinions of State environmental and sanitary-epide miological experts of subsurface use contracts, 
project documentation and ecological permission. 
2. Subsurface users shall be obliged to present for State environmental and sanitary-
epidemiological expert reviews all pre-project and project documentation, which shall include environmental impact assessment concerning the proposed activities and incorporate an 
"Environmental protection" section. 
Article 110. Requirements for rational and comprehensive use of subsurface use and 
protection of subsurface
88 
1. The requirements for rational and comprehe nsive use of subsurface and protection of 
subsurface shall be as follows: 
1) ensuring the completeness of the advanced geological study of subsurface for a reliable 
appraisal of the size and structure of mineral reserves, deposits and portions of subsurface 
allocated for the conducting subsurface use operations, including for the purposes not related to 
production; 
2) ensuring rational and comprehensive use of subsurface resources at all stages of subsurface use 
operations; 
3) ensuring the completeness of the extraction of minerals from subsurface without selective 
development of rich areas; 
4) reliable recording of the reserves of basic and associated minerals and components, both 
extracted and depleted in subsurface, including products of processing of mineral raw materials and production waste resulting from the development of the deposits; 
5) exemption of correction of the reserves of the minerals included in the State register, based on 
the results of primary processing; 
6) prevention of accumulations of industrial and domestic waste in water catchment areas and in 
places where the underground waters flow that are used for drinking purposes or for industrial 
water supply; 
7) protection of subsurface from watering, fire and other elements complicating the operation and 
development of deposits; 
8) prevention of subsurface pollution, especially during underground storage of oil, gas or other 
substances and materials, burial of harmful substances and waste; 
                                               
87 Article 109 as amended by the Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 269-V (enters into force from 01.01.2015). 
88 Article 110 as amended by the Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (is enforced upon expiry of ten 
calendar days after the day of its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  9) compliance with the established procedure for the suspension and termination of subsurface use 
operations, and conservation and liquidation of facilities related to the development of deposits; 
10) ensuring compliance with environmental and sa nitary-epidemiological requirements during the 
storage and placement of waste; 
11) using petroleum gas to the maximum extent, by processing it to obtain strategically important 
energy carriers or primary resources for the petrochemical industry, reducing to a minimum any damage to the environment. 
2. Subsurface users shall ensure compliance with the requirements for rational and comprehensive 
use of subsurface and protection of subsurface as stipulated by paragraph 1 of this Article, when planning their operations related to the use of subsurface, geological studies, and exploration and development of mineral deposits and regulated by  the rules, instructions and methodological 
recommendations approved by the authorized bo dy for the study and utilization of mineral 
resources. 
Article 111. Liquidation and conservation of subsurface use objects
89  
1. Subsurface use objects where operations related to the State geological exploration of 
subsurface, exploration and production, includin g exploration and production of underground 
water, therapeutic mud, exploration of subsurfa ce for discharge of waste waters as well as 
construction and (or) operation of underground facilities not related to exploration and (or) 
production are or were conducted, except for technological units of a subsurface use object 
(blocks, panels, workings, oil and gas wells of various designation) shall be subject to liquidation or conservation in case of termination of subsurface use operations, as well as in case of full 
development of mineral reserves in accordance wi th the project documents and the work program. 
2. In case of termination of subsurface use operations, the subsurface user shall promptly proceed 
with operations on liquidation or conservation at the subsurface use object (Stopping of work) with 
the competent authority and immediately proceeds to  work on the conservation of the subsurface 
use object, and at the termination of mining operations immediately begin to perform work on the elimination of subsurface objects. 
In the case of the need to take an urgent decision on the termination of the mining subsurface 
user carries out a set of measures to ensure the preservation of production facilities prior to their liquidation or conservation. 
3. Liquidation or conservation of subsurface use objects shall be performed in accordance with 
liquidation or conservation project documentation, which shall be developed by a design 
organization having an appropriate license for the performance of operations and provision of services in the sphere of environmental protection  and which shall be agreed with the authorized 
body in the field of State support for industrial i nnovation, together with the authorized body in the 
field of oil and gas for environmental protection, for the study and use of subsurface, in the deposit of industrial safety, the sanitary-and-epide miological service, and land management bodies 
and which shall be approved by the subsurface user financing the work associated with the 
designing and implementation of the project, on  the basis of the rules for the liquidation and 
conservation of subsurface use objects, approved  by the authorized body  in the field of State 
support for industrial innovation, together with th e authorized body in the field of oil and gas.  
4. Operations on liquidation or conservation of subsurface use objects shall be deemed to be 
completed upon the signing of an act of the accept ance of work on the liquidation or conservation 
of the subsurface use object, by a commission created by the competent body and consisting of 
representatives from the authorized bodies fo r environmental protection, industrial safety, 
sanitary-and-epidemiological service, study and use of subsurface, the body for the management of land resources and local executive bodies of a region, a city of republican significance, the 
capital. 
                                               
89 Article 111 as amended by the Law of the Republ ic of Kazakhstan dated 26.12.2012 No. 61-V (shall 
be enforced from 06.07.2010); dated 29.09.2014 No. 239-V (is enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days 
after the day of its first official publication); dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (is enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after the day of its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  5. After the receipt of the work acceptance prot ocol on the liquidation or conservation of a 
subsurface use object, approved by the author ized body for environmental protection, the 
geological, surveyor's and other documentation shall be replenished as of the time of the 
completion of the work and shall be provided for keeping to the authorized body for the study and 
use of subsurface in accordance with the established procedure. 
6. Financing of operations related to the liquidation  or conservation of an object shall be performed 
at the expense of funds of the liquidation fund. Th e subsurface user shall make deductions to the 
liquidation fund into a special deposit account in any bank in the territory of the Republic of 
Kazakhstan. 
On subsurface use contracts, concluded and the effect of which is not terminated prior to 1st of 
January 2009, on which a subsurface user started to make contributions to the liquidation fund, 
and brought them to the deductions in the tax pe riod prior to 1st of January 2009 in accordance 
with the tax legislation of the Republic of Kaza khstan, the amount of the mentioned contributions 
shall be placed at a special deposit account in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan. This 
amount of contributions, subject to placement at  the special deposit account, shall be reduced to 
the amount, used by the subsurface user at the expense of the funds of such liquidation fund for liquidation of the effects of deposit development in  accordance with the program of liquidation of 
the effects of deposit development approved by the authorized body for the study and use of 
subsurface. 
The use of a liquidation fund is carried out by the subsurface user with the permission of the 
competent authority, agreed with the authorized  body for the study and utilization of mineral 
resources, and for widespread minerals - local exec utive bodies of oblasts, cities of republican 
significance, the capital. Terms of the order of formation of the liquidating fund, the amount of contributions to the liquidation fund, the freque ncy of such payments shall be established by 
contract. 
7. If the actual cost of the liquidation of subs urface use objects exceed the size of the fund 
liquidation, the subsurface user is obliged to  carry out additional funding for decommissioning 
subsoil. If actual costs are less than the liquidation fund size, the remaining money will remain in 
subsurface user. 
Article 112. Portions of subsurface of spec ial environmental, scientific, historical-
cultural and recreational value  
1. Portions of subsurface having special environmental, scientific, historical-cultural and 
recreational value shall be referred to objects of the State-owned natural preserve stock with the legal regime of special protection or regulated re gime of business activities, which are intended for 
the preservation of typical, unique or rare geological, geomorphological and hydrogeological 
objects. 
2. The particularities of the protection and use of portions of subsurface having special 
environmental, scientific, historical-cultural and recreational value shall be established in the 
legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan on specially protected natural territories. 
3. Portions of subsurface having special environmental, scientific, historical-cultural and 
recreational value may not be alienated for any other needs. 
4. To the extent of discovery of a geological, geomorphological or hydrogeological site having 
special environmental, scientific, historical-cultural and recreational value, subsurface users must terminate the operations in the relevant area and notify about it the authorized body for the study 
and use of subsurface and the authorized body for environmental protection. G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  Article 113. Terms of building on ar eas of commercial mineral occurrence90 
1. Designing and construction of settlements, industrial complexes and other business objects shall 
only be allowed upon the receipt of an opinion fr om the authorized body of the region, city of 
republican status, capital in consultation with the territorial division of the authorized body for the 
study and use of subsurface concerning the absence or insignificance of minerals in the subsurface 
underneath the plot intended for building. 
2 .  B u i l d i n g  o n  a r e a s  o f  c o m m e r c i a l  m i n e r a l  o c c u r r e n c e  a s  w e l l  a s  d e p l o y m e n t  o f  u n d e r g r o u n d  
facilities in places of their occurrence shall be a llowed with the permission of the authorized body 
for the study and use of subsurface and the author ized body in the sphere of industrial safety, 
provided that the possibility for recovery of mine rals is ensured or economic expedience of the 
development is proved. 
3. An unauthorized building on areas of commercial mineral occurrence shall be terminated 
without compensation of the incurred costs and the costs of re-cultivation of land in the contract area and of dismantling of the constructed objects. 
Article 114. Conducting petroleum operatio ns offshore, in inland water bodies, 
environmental emergency zones, and in  specially protected natural areas
91  
1. A general decision on the possibility of the conducting petroleum operations offshore, in inland 
water bodies, in environmental emergency zones an d in specially protected natural areas shall be 
made by the President of the Republic of Kazakh stan following a proposal of the Government of 
the Republic of Kazakhstan on the basis of th e opinion of a State environmental expertise. 
2. The procedure for the performance of petroleum operations offshore, petroleum operations in 
inland water bodies, environmental emergency zones, and in specially protected natural areas 
shall be approved by the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
3. During the operation of deposits, oil transporta tion in offshore nature reserve areas shall be 
performed through pipelines in accordance with the requirements established by environmental 
legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
Article 115. Ensuring safe subsurface use conditions for population and personnel92 
1. A subsurface user must ensure compliance wi th the rules and regulations for the safety of 
operations which are stipulated in legislation as well as ensure the implementation of measures to prevent and eliminate accidents, casualties and occupational diseases. 
2. Conducting subsurface use operations if they are dangerous for the life and health of people 
shall be prohibited. 
3. State control over the compliance with the ru les and regulations for industrial safety and 
industrial sanitation in conducting subsurface use operations shall be performed by the authorized 
body for industrial safety and the authorized bo dy for sanitary and epidemiological supervision. 
4. The following shall be the main requirements for ensuring the safety of subsurface use 
operations: 
                                               
90 Article 113 as amended by the Law dated 13.06.2013 No. 102-V (is enforced upon expiry of ten 
calendar days after the day of its first official pu blication); dated 11.04.2014 No. 189-V (is enforced upon 
expiry of ten calendar days after the day of its first official publication); dated 29.09.2014 No.239-V 
(is enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after the day of its first official publication); dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (is enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after the day of its first official publication). 
91 Article 114 as amended by the Law dated 29.09.2014 No. 239-V (is enforced upon expiry of ten 
calendar days after the day of its first official publication). 
92 Article 115 as amended by the Law dated 11.04.2014 No. 189-V (is enforced upon expiry of ten 
calendar days after the day of its first official pu blication); dated 29.09.2014 No. 239-V (is enforced upon 
expiry of ten calendar days after the day of its first official publication); dated 29.12.2014 No. 269-V (enters into force from 01.01.2015). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  1) admitting to operations persons with special training and qualifications, and to manage mining 
operations - persons having an appropriate special educational background; 
2) providing the persons engaged in mining and dr illing operations with special clothes and means 
of natural person and collective protection; 
3) providing the persons engaged in mining and dr illing operations with special clothes and means 
of natural person and collective protection; 
4) reporting and proper storage and use of explos ive substances and explosives as well as their 
accurate and safe use; 
5) performing a set of geological, mining survey  and other observations which are required and 
sufficient to support the technological cycle of operations and for predicting emergency situations, timely identification and putting of risk zones on mining operations maps; 
6) systematic monitoring of the condition of the mining atmosphere, the content of oxygen, 
harmful and explosive gases and dusts in it; 
7) timely replenishment of technical documentation and accident elimination plans with 
information specifying the boundaries of the safe operation zones; 
8) compliance with the designed systems for the development of deposits of solid minerals, plans 
and technological schemes for the development and deposit construction of oil, gas and 
underground water deposits; 
9) implementation of special measures for the fore casting and prevention of sudden discharges of 
gas, floods of water, minerals and ro cks, as well as quakes of rocks. 
5. To the extent that an immediate threat emerge s to the life and health of employees, officers of 
the subsurface users shall immediately suspend operations and provide for the transportation of 
the people to a safe place. 
6. In the event that an immediate threat emerge s to the life and health of the population in a 
subsurface use impact zone, the managers of the relevant organizations shall immediately inform 
about it the local executive bodies. 
7 .  I f  a  t h r e a t  t o  t h e  h e a l t h  a n d  l i f e  o f  p e o p l e  a r i s e s  i n  a  z o n e  a f f e c t e d  b y  s u b s u r f a c e  u s e  
operations, the subsurface user shall suspend its operations and shall have no right to resume 
subsurface use operations without creating safe conditions for the health and life of the people and without preventing the threat that arose. Where it is impossible to take other steps for the prevention of such threat, the subsurface user shall have the right to resume subsurface use 
operations only after relocating the population from the risk areas affected by subsurface use 
operations. 
8. Professional emergency rescue service departme nts shall provide services to subsurface users 
on a contractual basis in accordance with rules approved by the Government of the Republic of 
Kazakhstan. 
Chapter 12. State control over subs urface protection, study and use  
Article 116. State control over subsurface protection
93 
1. State control over subsurface protection sh all be exercised by the authorized body for 
environmental protection. 
2. The task of the State control over subsurface  protection shall be to ensure control over 
compliance by subsurface users with the subsurface and subsurface use legislation of the Republic 
                                               
93 Article 116 as amended by the Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (is enforced upon expiry of ten 
calendar days after the day of its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  of Kazakhstan as it relates to the prevention of subsurface pollution in the course of subsurface 
use operations and a decrease in harmful environmental impacts on the environment, as well as the detection and control of illegal use of mineral resources. 
3. State control over subsurface protection shall include: 
1) State monitoring of the protection of subsurface; 
2) control over compliance with licensing and contractual terms relating to the protection of 
subsurface; 
3) control over burial of harmful substances, radioactive waste and discharge of waste water into 
subsurface; 
4) control over the prevention of subsurface pollution, flooding, fire and technogenic processes 
damaging deposits and other environmental objects; 
4-1) control measures to detect and prevent illegal use of mineral resources. 
5) control over conservation and liquidation of subsurface use facilities; 6) control over the performance of measures aimed at preventing emergency or other hazardous 
situations in the course of subsurface use operations; 
7) control over compliance with environmental standards and rules when using subsurface and 
processing mineral raw materials; 
8) control over compliance with design solutions relating to environmental protection in the course 
of production and processing of mineral raw materials. 
Article 117. State control over the study and use of subsurface
94 
1. The authorized body for the study and use of subsurface shall exercise State control over the 
study and use of subsurface. 
2. The task of the State control over the study an d use of subsurface shall be to ensure control 
over compliance by subsurface users with the subsurface and subsurface use legislation of the 
Republic of Kazakhstan during prospecting for and appraisal of deposits, rational and 
comprehensive use of mineral raw materials in th e course of production, geological studies and 
appraisal of portions of subsurface for construction and operation of underground facilities not 
related to production. 
3. State control over the study and use of subsurface shall include: 1) control over the geological study and use of subsurface, ensuring the opening up, preparation 
and completeness of the extraction of reserves and ruling out selective development of rich a 
portion of subsurface, the implementation of the indicators provided by the design documents and 
design decisions within the competence of the au thorized body in the field of study and use of 
subsurface; 
2) control over reliability of the record of mineral reserves recoverable and depleted in the 
subsurface, and of their losses in the course of production. 
                                               
94 Article 117 as amended by the Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (is enforced upon expiry of ten 
calendar days after the day of its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  Article 118. State control over the co nducting subsurface use operations95 
1. State control over the conducting subsurface us e operations shall be exercised by State bodies 
(within their competence) in accordance with the le gislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Officers 
of these bodies that conduct inspections shall ensure keeping of commercial secrets. 
2. State control over the conducting subsurface use operations shall be exercised in the form of 
inspections and in other forms. 
3. Inspections shall be performed in accordance with the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan 
"On State Control and Supervision in the Republic of Kazakhstan". Other forms of State control 
shall be exercised in accordance with this Law. 
Chapter 13. State subsurface fund 
Article 119. Recording the conditio n of the State subsurface fund96 
1. The State subsurface stock includes the subsurface of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
2. The following shall be performed in order to ensure efficient use of the State subsurface stock: 1) State monitoring of the subsurface; 
2) State expertise of the subsurface; 
3) the State storage of geological information; 4) maintenance of the State register of mineral reserves; 
5) maintenance of State cadastres of: 
- deposits and occurrences of minerals; - burials of harmful substances, radioactive waste and discharge of waste waters into 
the subsurface; 
- technogenic minerals formations. 
3. Geological reporting on the condition of the subsurface which is based on the materials of prime 
records shall be submitted by subsurface users in accordance with the special forms approved by 
the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
Article 120. State monitoring of subsurface
97  
1. State monitoring of the subsurface means a sy stem of observations of the condition of the 
subsurface to ensure efficient use of the State subsurface stock and timely identification of its 
changes, and the assessment, prevention and elimin ation of consequences of negative processes. 
2. The procedure for conducting the State monitoring of the subsurface shall be established by the 
authorized body in the field of Stat e support for industrial innovation. 
                                               
95 Article 118 as amended by the Law of the Re public of Kazakhstan dated 06.01.2011 No. 378-IV 
(shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calend ar days after its first official publication). 
96 Article 119 as amended by the Law dated 29.09.2014 No. 239-V (is enforced upon expiry of ten 
calendar days after the day of its first official publication). 
97 Article 120 as amended by the Law dated 29.09.2014 No. 239-V (is enforced upon expiry of ten 
calendar days after the day of its first official publication); dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (Footnote. Article 116 
as amended by the Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (is enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after the day of its first official publication)). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  Article 121. State expertise of subsurface98 
1. For the purposes of creating conditions for rational and comprehensive use of the subsurface, 
establishing fees for subsurface use and establishing boundaries of portions of subsurface allocated 
for use, the mineral reserves in explored deposits shall be subject to State expertise. 
2. A subsurface user having the right to subsurface use to carry out production shall have the right 
to commence production only after conducting a St ate expertise of mineral reserves. An opinion of 
State experts on the economic feasibility of the de velopment of the explored mineral reserves shall 
be the basis for their State recording. 
3. A State expertise may be performed at any stage of the geological study of a deposit/deposit, 
provided that the geological materials submitted for the State expertise make it possible to provide an objective assessment of the quantity and qualit y of the mineral reserves, their significance for 
the economy of the Republic, and of the mining , hydrogeological, environmental, and other 
conditions of production. 
4. Geological information about portions of subsurface which are suitable for construction and 
operation of underground facilities not related to  exploration and (or) production shall also be 
subject to State expertise. Such portions of su bsurface may be granted for use only upon the 
State expertise of geological information. 
5. State expertise of the subsurface shall be performed by the State commission for mineral 
reserves of the Republic of Kazakhstan and by inter-regional commissions for mineral reserves with the assistance of independent experts with expertise in the field of geology and subsoil use 
and are not interested in the results of the examination. 
6. Organization of the activity of the State co mmission for mineral reserves of the Republic of 
Kazakhstan and inter-regional commissions for mineral reserves, their membership, rules of procedure and records management shall be as established by the regulations on the State 
commission for mineral reserves of the Republic of Kazakhstan and inter-regional commissions for 
mineral reserves approved by the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
7. The term of the State examination subsurface shall not exceed six months from the date of 
receipt of the relevant treatment. 
Article 122. State regist er of mineral reserves
99 
1. The State register of mineral reserves shall be  maintained by the authorized body for the study 
and use of subsurface for the purposes of recording the State of the mineral and raw material base 
of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
2. The State register of mineral reserves shall contain information about the quantity, quality and 
the extent to which each type of minerals has been studied per each commercial discovery, as well 
as about their location, extent of their commercial use, production, losses and the availability of 
explored mineral reserves to the industry. 
3. Is excluded by the Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (is enforced upon expiry of ten calendar 
days after the day of its first official publication).  
4. The authorized body for the study and use of subsurface shall provide State bodies with 
information about the State register of mineral reserves in accordance with the procedure established by it. 
                                               
98 Article 121 as amended by the Law dated 29.09.2014 No. 239-V (is enforced upon expiry of ten 
calendar days after the day of its first official pu blication); dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (is enforced upon 
expiry of ten calendar days after the day of its first official publication). 
99 Article 122 as amended by the Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (is enforced upon expiry of ten 
calendar days after the day of its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  Article 123. State cadastre of dep osits and occurrences of minerals100 
1. The State cadastre of deposits and occurrences of minerals shall be maintained by the 
authorized body for the study and use of subsurface for the purposes of ensuring the development of industry (sectoral) and regional programs for the geological study of subsurface, comprehensive 
use of deposits, as well as for the resolution of other tasks. 
2. The State cadastre of deposits and occurrences of minerals shall include information about each 
deposit, describing the quantity and quality of the main minerals and those accompanying them 
and of components contained therein, and mine engineering, hydrogeological, environmental and 
other conditions of deposit development and its geological and economic appraisal, as well as information concerning any discovered occurrences of minerals. 
3. The procedure for maintaining the State cadastre  of deposits and occurrences of minerals shall 
be established by the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
Article 124. State cadastre of  burials of harmful substa nces, radioactive waste and 
discharges of waste water into subsurface
101 
1. The State cadastre of burials of harmful substances, radioactive waste and discharges of waste 
water into subsurface shall be organized by the authorized body for environmental protection for 
the purposes of prompt receipt of information, decision making with regard to environmental 
protection matters and for exercising planned cont rol over the condition of places of burial of 
harmful substances, radioactive waste and the discharge of waste water into the subsurface. 
2. The State cadastre of burials of harmful substances, radioactive waste and discharges of waste 
water into the subsurface shall contain inform ation describing the type and form of buried 
substances and discharged water, setting forth their quantity and quality parameters, and mine 
engineering, special engineering geological, hydrogeological and ecological conditions of the burial or discharge. 
3. The procedure for maintaining the State cadastre  of burials of harmful substances, radioactive 
waste and discharges of waste water into the subsurface shall be established by the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan.   
Article 125. State cadastre of technogenic mineral formations
102  
1. The State cadastre of technogenic mineral formations shall be maintained by the authorized 
body for the study and use of subsurface in ac cordance with the procedure approved by the 
Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
2. The State cadastre of technogenic mineral formations shall contain information about stored 
items, characterizing the type and form of the technogenic mineral formations and setting forth 
their quantity and quality parameters, and mine en gineering and ecological conditions of storage. 
                                               
100 Article 123 as amended by the Law dated 03.07.2013 No. 124-V (is enforced upon expiry of ten 
calendar days after the day of its first official pu blication); dated 29.09.2014 No. 239-V (is enforced upon 
expiry of ten calendar days after the day of its first official publication). 
101 Article 124 as amended by the Law dated 29.09.2014 No. 239-V (is enforced upon expiry of ten 
calendar days after the day of its first official publication). 
102 Article 125 as amended by the Law dated 29.09.2014 No. 239-V (is enforced upon expiry of ten 
calendar days after the day of its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  Chapter 14. Liability for violations of the legislation of the 
Republic of Kazakhstan on su bsurface and subsurface use  
Article 126. Liability for violations of the legi slation of the Republic of Kazakhstan on 
subsurface and subsurface use  
1. A violation of the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan on subsurface and subsurface use 
shall entail liability established by the laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
2. Transactions related to subsurface use which are consummated in violation of the requirements 
set forth in the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan shall be void. 
Persons guilty of the consummation of such transactions shall bear administrative or criminal 
liability in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
Article 127. Compensation of da mage (harm) caused by the vi olation of the legislation of 
the Republic of Kazakhstan on subsurface and subsurface use103  
1. Persons that caused harm as a result of viol ation of the environmental legislation requirements 
of the Republic of Kazakhstan shall compensate the inflicted harm, unless they prove that such 
harm resulted from insuperable force or intent of the affected person, in the amounts and in 
accordance with the procedure established by th e legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
2. The amount of damage caused by violation of the requirements for efficient use of subsurface 
shall be determined by the authorized body fo r the study and use of subsurface jointly, in 
accordance with the procedure established by th e Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
3. Is excluded by the Law dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (is enforced upon expiry of ten calendar 
days after the day of its first official publication). 
Article 128. Resolution of disputes  
1. Disputes related to the performance, amendmen t and termination of contracts shall be resolved 
through negotiations. 
2. If a dispute related to the performance, amendment or termination of a contract may not be 
resolved in accordance with paragraph 1 of this Ar ticle, the parties shall have the right to resolve 
such disputes in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan and international treaties 
ratified by the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
Chapter 15. Final and transitional provisions  
Article 129. Transitional provisions104 
1. This Law shall apply to the relations arising after its enactment, except for to the extent 
provided by paragraph 3 of this Article. 
2. Subsurface users, signed subsurface use contracts with the competent body in the conditions 
when project documents were unavailable, shall be obliged to their development and approval in 
accordance with the established procedure within a period which not exceed twenty four months 
following the enforcement of this Law and shall, no later than thirty months following the enforcement of this Law, submit work programs under exploration and production contracts on the 
                                               
103 Article 123 as amended by the Law dated 29.09.2014 No. 239-V (is enforced upon expiry of ten 
calendar days after the day of its first official pu blication); dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (is enforced upon 
expiry of ten calendar days after the day of its first official publication). 
104 Article 129 as amended by the Laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 09.01.2012 No. 535-IV 
(shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days  after its first official publication); dated 20.02.2012 
No. 567-IV (shall be enforced from 05.07.2010); dated 29.12.2014 No. 271-V (is enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after the day of its first official publication). G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  basis of project documents to the authorized body for the study and use of subsurface for 
approval. 
3. As for subsurface use contracts earlier executed with State bodies of the Republic of 
Kazakhstan, the parties shall be guided by the re quirements established by this Law with respect 
to the uniformity of terminology, submission of in formation about Local content in personnel, Local 
content in goods, work, services calculated in accordance with the uniform methodology for the 
calculation of Local content by organizations pr ocuring goods, works and services, planned and 
actual procurement of goods, work and service in  accordance with the procedure and in the forms 
approved by the competent body. 
4. The licenses, issued, and contracts concluded befo re the enactment of this Law, as well as all 
related acts issued by executive bodies of th e Republic of Kazakhstan, shall remain valid. 
5. The functions of the licensing body - the Govern ment of the Republic of Kazakhstan, in relation 
to the earlier issued and valid licenses for subsurface use, shall be assigned to the competent body. 
6. Subsurface users conducting production under one contract for performing petroleum operations 
executed prior to 1st of January 2004 from several deposits of hydrocarbons, part of which is included in the list of high-viscosity, flooded, intermittent or worked-out deposits approved by the 
Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan in accord ance with the tax legislation of the Republic of 
Kazakhstan, shall have the right to apply to the competent body requesting execution of a separate production contract with respect to such deposit(s). Such contract may be executed for a 
term remaining until the expiry date of the initial contract. 
7. The provisions of the second paragraph of para graph 6 of Article 10 of this Law shall not apply 
to the existing waste disposal landfill, if in acco rdance with the projects agreed in the established 
order it is foreseen to accommodate their other wastes in storage locations of technogenic mineral 
formations. 
8. The provisions of paragraph 4 of Article 71 of this Law shall not apply to the subsurface users, 
which before the date of application of this paragraph apply to the competent authority for the 
extension of the subsurface use contract and receiv ed consent to an extension, subject to approval 
in accordance with this Law of project documents to conduct mining activities. 
9. The provisions of Article 95-1 of this Law appl y to previously signed contracts for exploration, 
production or combined exploration and production. 
Article 130. Procedure of enforcement of this Law  
1. This Law shall enter into force upon expiry of ten calendar days after its first official publication, 
except for 3 of Article 77, that shall be enforced from 1 October 2010. 
2. To declare to be no longer in force the following laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan: 
1) the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan date d 28 June 1995 "On petroleum" (Bulletin of the 
Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, 1995, No 11, Article76; Bulletin of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, 1997, No. 11, Article 150; 1999, No. 21, Article 787; 2003 г., No. 6, 
Article 34; No. 11, Article 56; 2004, No. 22, Article 131; No. 23, Article 142; 2005, No. 16, 
Article 70; 2006, No. 16, Article 99; No 24, Article 148; 2007, No. 2, Article 18; No. 3, Article 22; No. 8, Article 52; No. 9, Article 67; No. 19, Article 148; 2008, No. 23, Article 114; No. 24, 
Article 129; 2009, No. 2-3, Article 18); 
2) the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 27 January1996 "On subsurface and subsurface 
use" (Bulletin of the Parliament of the Republic  of Kazakhstan, 1996, No 2, Article 182; 1999, 
No. 11, Article 357; No. 21, Article 787; 2003, No. 11, Article 56; 2004, No. 22, Article 131; No. 23, Article 142; 2005, No. 16, Article 70; 2006, No. 3, Article 22; No. 16, Article 99; No. 24, 
Article 148; 2007, No. 1, Article 4; No. 3, Article 22; No. 22, Article 170; 2008., No. 23, 
Article 114; 2009, No. 2-3, Article 18; No. 18, Article 84; No. 24, Article 133; 2010, No. 5, 
Article 23). 
 The President of the Republic of Kazakhstan   N. Nazarbayev  G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  Order of the Deputy Prime Minister - Mini ster of Industry and New Technologies 
 of the Republic of Kazakhstan No. 113 of 11 June 2010 "On Сertain Issues of 
Concluding, Conditions and Model Form of the Agreement on Industrial  
Assembly of Motor Vehicles with Juridical Persons -  
Residents of the Republic of Kazakhstan" 
In order to implement Decision of the Commiss ion of the Customs Union of 27 November 2009 
No. 130 "On the Common External Tariff Regulation of the Customs Union of the Republic of 
Belarus, Republic of Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation" and in accordance with 
subparagraph 147) of paragraph 16 of the Regula tion on the Ministry of Industry and New 
Technologies of the Republic of Kazakhstan, appr oved by Resolution of the Government of the 
Republic of Kazakhstan No. 1237 of 26 November 2004, I hereby order: 
1. To approve the attached Rules on Concluding the Agreement on Industrial Assembly of Motor 
Vehicles. 
2. Committee of Industry under the Ministry of In dustry and New Technologies of the Republic of 
Kazakhstan in accordance with the legislation to pr ovide the state registration of this Order in the 
Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan and its official publication in the media. 
3. To assign the control over the execution of this  Order to the first Vice-Minister of the Industry 
and New Technologies of the Republic of Kazakhstan  A. Rau 
4. This Order shall come into force from th e date of its first official publication. 
Deputy Prime Minister - 
Minister of Industry and New Technologies of 
the Republic of Kazakhstan A. Issekeshev 
Approved by Order of the Deputy Prime Minister - 
Minister of Industry and New Technology 
of the Republic of Kazakhstan 
No. 113 of 11 June 2010 
Rules on Concluding the Agreement on Industrial Assembly of Motor Vehicles 
These rules are developed to implement Decision of the Commission of the Customs Union No. 130 
of 27 November 2009 "On the Common External Tariff Regulation of the Customs Union of the Republic of Belarus, Republic of Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation" and in accordance with subparagraph 147) of paragraph 16 of the Regula tion on the Ministry of Industry and New 
Technologies of the Republic of Kazakhstan, appr oved by Resolution of the Government of the 
Republic of Kazakhstan No. 1237 of 26 November 2004 and determine the terms and conditions of 
the concluding the agreement on industrial assembly of motor vehicles under heading 8701, 8702, 
8703, 8704, 8705 HS CU with juridical pers ons of the Republic of Kazakhstan 
(hereinafter - Agreement). 
1. General provisions 
1. The Agreement is a civil contract and conclu ded between the Ministry of Industry and New 
Technologies (hereinafter - the authorized body ) and a juridical person of the Republic of 
Kazakhstan (hereinafter - juridical person) in ac cordance with the civil law, ratified by the 
international treaties of the Republic of Kazakhstan and these Rules in the form, as specified in the 
Annex to this Rules. 
2. Following terms shall be used in these Rules: 
- auto components - parts, assemblies, components, materials, chemical and paint 
products needed for the production of motor vehicles; G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  - industrial assembly of motor vehicles - a system of serial production based on a 
technological process, providing for the esta blished by the Decision of the Eurasian 
Economic Supreme Council project production capacity of the enterprise, which includes featuring the following technical operations: 
- welding, assembly and painting of the body; 
- installation of cabin equipment; - installation of a power train, steering mechanism, exhaust system; 
- installation of electrical equipment, suspension components; 
- installation of exterior elements; - conducting control tests of finished motor vehicles. 
3. Under the industrial assembly individual operations could be performed in conjunction with 
other Kazakhstan's juridical persons. 
4. The agreement is the basis (permission) for the customs declaration of auto components 
imported for the industrial assembly of cars, and cars produced with performance of technical 
operations, referred to in paragraph 6 of the these Rules, in the positions of the Common Customs 
Tariff of the CU "for the industrial assembly of motor vehicles under HS CU headings 8701-8705, their components and assemblies". 
2. Conditions of the Agreement 
5. Mandatory conditions of the agreement in the pr ocess of the production of motor vehicles under 
HS CU heading 8703 for the juridical persons concluded the agreement before the entry into force of the Decision, shall be an existence of productive assets of at least 2 billion tenge in possession 
of a juridical person on the date of signing, ex istence of production capacity of no less than 
25,000 pieces of motor vehicles per year or no less than 50, 000 pieces of motor vehicles in sum for no more than two juridical persons concluded relative multilateral agreements, an also 
obligations of a juridical person in a period not exceeding 84 months from the signing date of the 
agreement: 
- to launch the industrial assembly of at least one model of motor vehicles of HS CU 
heading 8703; 
- to import of car parts for industrial assembly originating from countries not party to 
the CU, under headings of the Common External Tariff "for the industrial assembly of motor vehicles under HS CU headings 8701-8705, their components and assemblies" 
in volume of no more than 70% of the total value of the auto-components, used in the 
production, taking into account the cost of the body, classified in HS CU heading 8707. 
Mandatory conditions of the agreement in the production of motor vehicles under HS CU heading 
8703 for the juridical person concluded multilateral agreements after the entry into force of the 
Decision shall be a provision of: 
- launch the industrial assembly of at least one model of motor vehicles under HS CU 
heading 8703; 
- reaching the level of localization by one model no less than 50% till the end of 
agreement. G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  5-1. Mandatory conditions of the agreement in the process of the production of motor vehicles 
under HS CU headings 8701, 8702, 8704, 8705 shal l be an obligation of the juridical person 
during 6 months from the date of signing of agr eement to generate the productive assets of at 
least 0,5 billion tenge, as well as provide for: 
- project capacity for HS CU headings 8701, 8704, 8705 no less than 10,000 motor 
vehicles per year in two-shift operation; 
- project capacity for HS CU heading 8702 no less than 1200 motor vehicles per year; 
- launch of industrial assembly not less than one model of a motor vehicle on one of the 
following HS CU headings: 8701, 8702, 8704, 8705; 
- reaching the level of localization by one model no less than 50% till the end of 
agreement. 
6. At the same time, during the term of the Agreement before and after launching industrial 
assembly of certain car models, juridical person  may produce other car models, upon performing 
the following technological operations: 
- installing and fixing of an engine, connecting stirring mechanisms to the engine; 
- installation of rear suspension; - installation of exhaust system; 
- installation and connection of a battery and conducting of a test of the board electrical 
circuits; 
- installation of road wheels; - pumping of brake and coolant fluids; 
- inspection of the braking system; 
- control tests of finished motor vehicles. 
7. The agreement shall define the schedule of impl ementation the stages of agreement on yearly 
basis and indicate the launch date of the producti on of motor vehicles, timeframes for establishing 
of welding, painting and body assembly operations at the enterprise. 
8. The conclusion of new agreements in respect of motor vehicles of HS CU heading 8703 after the 
entry into force of the Decisions shall not be al lowed, except for multilateral agreements with 
juridical persons which concluded agreements before the entry into force of the Decision.  
Terms for transition to an industrial assembly shall not exceed the maximum term adopted by one 
of the parties to a multilateral agreement. 
8-1. Conclusion of agreements in respect of motor vehicles of HS CU headings 8701, 8702, 8704, 
8705 shall be allowed within 60 calendar days from the date of entry into force of the Decision for a period until 31 December 2020.  
9. In case of making changes in the conditio ns of these Rules in the downside (change of 
conditions and / or duration of preferences, conditions for application of the concept "industrial assembly", etc.) content of the agreement shall not be changed. G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  3. The order of conclusion of the agreement 
10. In order to conclude the agreement juridical person shall address the authorized body. 11. The following documents shall be submitted: 
- draft of the agreement; 
- draft of the schedule of implementation th e stages of agreement on yearly basis and 
indicate the launch date of the production of motor vehicles, timeframes for establishing of welding, painting and body assembly operations at the enterprise; 
- audited financial statements, confirming the existence of productive assets of juridical 
at the date of signing of the agreement in accordance with paragraph 5 and during 6 months after the signing of the Agreement in accordance with paragraph 5-1 of these Rules. 
12. The authorized body shall, within ten work ing days consider the documents submitted in 
accordance with paragraph 11 of these Rules. In case of nonconformance of the submitted documents with the requirements, provided by these Rules, a reasonable rejection shall be sent to 
the juridical person with indication of the reasons for impossibility of conclusion of the agreement. 
13. The agreement shall be concluded with the juridical person within 5 working days after 
consideration. 
_______________ 
   G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  Annex to the Rules on Concluding of an Agreement  
on Industrial Assembly of Motor Vehicles 
 Model form 
Agreement on Industrial Assembly of Motor Vehicles of HS CU heading 8703  
Astana city __________________________(D/M/Y) This Agreement is concluded between ________________________________________________ 
________________________ (name of the author ized body) represented by ________________ 
__________________________________________________________, acting (Full name of the 
executive or acting person) on the basis of ____________________________________________ (provision or order) (hereinafter – auth orized body) and _________________________________ 
_________________________________, (name of the lega l entity of the Republic of Kazakhstan) 
represented by _________________________________________________________________, 
acting (Full name of the executive or anothe r authorized person) on the basis of ______________ 
_______________________________________ (hereinafter – the Producer), (charter or power of attorney) hereinafter referred to as the Parties. 
Taking into account that: 
1) The authorized body is empowered with the righ ts that are directly related to the negotiation 
and enforcement of this Agreement; 
2) The authorized body and the Producer have agreed that the agreement shall regulate their 
mutual rights and responsibilities in th e while implementation of its conditions. 
Authorized body and the Producer have en tered into this agreement as follows. 
1. Subject of the Agreement 1.1. The subject of this agreement is the inte raction between the Parties for establishment and 
implementation of mutual commitments and guarantees in the production of motor vehicles under 
heading HS CU 8701, 8702, 8703, 8704, 8705 using the concept of "industrial assembly" in the Customs Union of the Republic of Belarus, the Re public of Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation 
within the Eurasian Economic Community (hereina fter - CU), aimed at the development of the 
domestic automobile industry, with the stat e support of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
The term "industrial assembly" of motor vehicles means a system of serial production based on 
technological process providing for project production capacity of the enterprise for headings 
HS CU 8703 of no less than 25,000 pieces per year or no less than 50,000 of motor vehicles in 
total no more than for a two juridical persons that have concluded appropriate multilateral agreement for headings HS CU 8701, 8704 and 8705 no less 10 thousand pieces per year, for the 
heading HS CU 8702 is no less than 1.2 thousands of pieces per year under two- shift operation, 
which includes the following operations: 
- welding, painting and assembly of the body; 
- installation of a cabin equipment compartment; G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  - installation of a powertrain, steering mechanism, exhaust system; 
- installation of electrical equipment, suspension components; - installation of exterior elements; - conducting control tests of finished motor vehicles. 
1.2. This Agreement is the basis (permission) fo r the customs declaration of auto components 
imported for industrial assembly of cars, and cars made with performance of manufacturing operations, referred to in paragraph 2.3.2 of th is Agreement, in the positions of the Common 
External Tariff of the CU "for th e Industrial Assembly of Motor Vehicles Under headings 8701-8705, 
their components and assemblies". 
Auto components - parts, assemblies, components, materials, chemical and paint products needed 
for the production of motor vehicles; 
1.3. Partnership (cooperation) of the Parties shall mean undertaking of obligations by the 
Parties on: 
1) providing the execution of the requirements of the Producer to possess productive assets of at 
least 2 billion tenge in production of motor vehicl es HS heading 8703 or formation within 6 months 
from the date of signing of the Agreement production assets in the amount of no less than 0.5 billion. tenge in the production of mo tor vehicles of HS Cu headings 8701, 8702, 8703, 
8704, 8705, as well as: 
- launching industrial assembly of at least one model of motor vehicles under HS CU 
headings 8701, 8702, 8703, 8704, 8705;  
- reaching the level of localization by one model no less than 50 % till the end of 
agreement; 
2) guaranteeing by the authorized body to reserv e the terms and conditions of the Agreement with 
the Producer in the production of motor vehicles under HS CU heading 8701, 8702, 8703, 8704, 
8705 using the concept of "industrial assembly". 
2. Obligations of the Parties 2.1. The Producer shall: 
2.1.1. Provide up to 31 December 2020: 
- launch industrial assembly of at least one model of motor vehicles under HS CU 
headings 8701, 8702, 8703, 8704, 8705; 
- reaching the level of localization by one model no less than 50% till the end of 
agreement. 
2.1.2. Carry out implementation of the stages of  the Agreement in accordance with the schedule, 
which is an integral part of this Agreement. 
2.1.3. Prior to 1 April of each calendar year, foll owing the reporting year, submit to the authorized 
body and customs authorities, in which the custom s declaration of imported goods is carried out, 
the following documents in the form established by the authorized body: 
- information on the execution of the schedul e for implementation of the stages of the 
agreement; G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  - information on the volumes of output and a report on the number of produced cars 
and other vehicles with indication of the amount, make, model, body type, engine type, type of transmission, exterior colors; 
- report on auto components, originated in countries not members of the CU, actually 
imported to the territory of the Republic  of Kazakhstan and used in industrial 
assembly of motor vehicles; 
- report on unused auto components, originated in countries not members of the CU, 
actually imported to the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan; 
- financial statements for the year. 
2.2. Authorized body, within its competence, shall: 2.2.1. Not to change the terms of the agreement in the case of making changes to the Rules of 
concluding the agreement on industrial assembly of motor vehicles under HS CU headings 8701, 
8702, 8703, 8704, 87053, that would adversely chan ge the terms of this Agreement (the change 
of conditions and / or the term of the preferences,  the conditions for eligibility to the concept of 
"industrial assembly" and so on). 
2.3. The producer has the right to: 
- take any action, not inconsistent with the terms of the Agreement and the legislation 
of the Republic of Kazakhstan for th e implementation of his commitments; 
2.3.2. At the same time, during the term of th e Agreement before and after launching industrial 
assembly of certain car models, the Producer ma y produce other car models, upon performing the 
following technological operations: 
- installing and fixing of an engine, connecting stirring mechanisms to the engine; 
- installation of rear suspension; - installation of exhaust system; 
- installation and connection of a battery and conducting of a test of the board electrical 
circuits; 
- installation of road wheels; 
- pumping of brake and coolant fluids; 
- inspection of the braking system; - control tests of finished motor vehicles. 
2.4. Authorized body has the right to: 
2.4.1. determine conditions and the order of conclusion, conclude and register agreements; 
2.4.2. Carry out monitoring of the implementa tion of the agreement and request necessary 
information; 
2.4.3. Develop and submit for approval to the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan 
proposals for introduction of additional measures of the state to support the Producers engaged in 
the production in the "industrial assembly" mode; 
2.4.4. Other rights provided under the provisions  of the authorized body and the laws of the 
Republic of Kazakhstan. G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  3. Fulfilment of obligations by the Producer over model range, production of which is 
carried out in the regime of "industrial assembly"  
3.1. The Producer shall provide to the authorized bo dy Act of commissioning of production facilities 
for welding, painting and assembly of the body, be fore the expiration of 84 months from the date 
of signing of the Agreement. 
3.2. The Producer shall send to the authorized bo dy a draft List of auto components imported and 
classified by the positions of the Common External  Tariff of the CU "for industrial assembly of 
motor vehicles of HS CU headings 8701-8705, their components and assemblies " (hereinafter - 
the List) as well as two copies the List signed by  the Producer, within 80 mo nths from the date of 
signing of the agreement. 
3.3. The authorized body shall consider the draft Li st within 30 (thirty) days from the date of its 
receipt and send back to the Producer a signed List or motivated refusal to sign. 
3.4. Upon expiration of 84 months from the date of  signing of the agreement classification of auto 
components on the positions of the of the Commo n External Tariff of the CU "for industrial 
assembly of motor vehicles under HS CU headings 8701-8705, their components and assemblies " 
for the models, production of which is in the "industrial assembly" mode applies only for auto parts that are in the List. 
3.5. The cost of auto components, included in the List, should not exceed 70% of the total cost of 
auto components, used for the production, includin g the cost of the body, classified by HS CU 
heading 8707. 
3.6. The producer shall be entitled to import auto components not included in the List, using 
current rates of import duties by their classification on HS CU headings, which are not in the 
heading "for the industrial assembly of motor vehicles of HS CU headings 8701-8705, their components and assemblies." 
4. Responsibilities of the Parties 
4.1. For any failure or improper fulfillment of obligations and guarantees the Parties shall bear 
responsibility in accordance with the le gislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
4.2. In case of detection of inappropriate use of auto components, authorized body or customs 
authority no later than 10 calendar days shall send a notice to a legal entity informing about detection of inappropriate use of auto components . Legal entity, in the manner prescribed by the 
customs legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan, shall make payments of customs duties along 
with the imposed fine on the auto components, the use of which does correspond to the purposes 
of their importation. Otherwise, the agreement shall be terminated and the import license of 
automotive components in the positions of the common customs tariff "for the industrial assembly 
of motor vehicles of headings 8701-8705, their units and aggregates" shall be cancelled. 
4.3. In case of non-performance or improper pe rformance of other provisions of the agreement, 
authorized body shall send a written notice to the Producer, specifying the violations and 
demanding to eliminate those violations in one month time. 
Failure to eliminate or improper elimination of violations shall be a basis for termination of the 
agreement in the manner provided by the civil legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
5. Force majeure 
5.1. None of the Parties shall be liable for failure to fulfill any obligation under this Agreement if 
such failure or delay in fulfillment is due to force majeure. 
5.2. The force majeure shall include military conf licts, natural disasters (fires, major accidents, 
impaired communication, etc.) and other extraordinary and unavoidable circumstances under 
given conditions. G/TRIMS/N/1/KAZ/1 
 
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  5.3. At full or partial suspension of work under  the agreement due to force majeure, changes shall 
be made in the schedule of implementation of stag es of the agreement with extension of terms for 
the implementation of the duration of force majeure. 
5.4. In case of occurrence of force majeure circ umstances, the Party suffered from them, within 
15 working days from the date of occurrence shall notify the other Party by providing a written 
notice specifying the start date of the event and a description of force majeure. 
5.5. In the event of force majeure, the Parties shall immediately hold talks to find a solution to the 
situation and use all means to minimize the effects of such circumstances. 
6. Confidentiality 6.1. Parties, in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan shall observe 
confidentiality requirements in respect of all documents, information and reports relating to the 
implementation of this Agreement during its term. 
6.2. None of the Parties, without written consent of the other Party, shall disclose information 
relating to the content of the agreement, or any other information that is confidential and related 
to the implementation of the provisions of this Agreement, unless: 
1) information is used in the course of a court trial; 2) information is shared with third parties, which provide services to one of the parties under 
agreement, provided that such third party underta kes to respect confidentiality requirements of 
such information and use it only for the purposes identified by the Parties and during specified period of time; 
3) information is provided to a bank or other financial institution, from which the Party receives 
funds within funding agreement, provided that such bank or financial institution is committed to 
respect confidentiality of such information; 
4) information is given tax or other authorized bodies of the Republic of Kazakhstan, who have 
access to any information, including those covered by bank secrecy, related to any bank accounts 
of the Producer, including the ones opened with foreign banks outside the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
7. Dispute settlement 
7.1. Any dispute between the Parties concerning interpretation or application of this Agreement 
shall be settled by a way of consultations and negotiations. 
7.2. Unresolved disputes shall be settled in court in accordance with the legislation of the Republic 
of Kazakhstan. 
8. Final provisions, entry into forc e and termination of the Agreement 
8.1. This agreement shall be effective till 31 December 2020. 8.2 Content of the agreement can not be changed in  the event of enactment of legal acts of the 
Authorized Body, which will adversely change the terms of this Agreement. 
8.3. This Agreement is governed by and in acco rdance with the legislation of the Republic of 
Kazakhstan. 
8.4. Concluded in the city of Astana "____" ____________2010, in (____) copies in the Kazakh 
and Russian languages having equal legal force, one (1) copy for each Party. In case of disagreement in the interpretation of this agreement, the parties refer to the text in Russian. 
Signatures_____________________ 
__________