Kazakhstan's Energy Ministry to auction 26 oil and gas blocks November 18
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Kazakhstan’s Energy Ministry will hold an electronic auction for 26 oil and gas blocks on November 18, 2026, with applications due by October 5. The auction offers 24 exploration-and-production blocks and two producing fields across Atyrau, Aktobe, West Kazakhstan, Kostanay, Pavlodar, Kyzylorda and Ulytau regions. The announcement follows a previous round that attracted bids for only nine of 30 blocks, with those results due August 11.
The Auction
The Ministry of Energy announced the electronic auction on the e-qazyna.kz platform for November 18, 2026, with applications open until October 5. According to EnergyMonitor and Orda.kz, the auction comprises 26 blocks: 24 for exploration with subsequent production rights and two for direct production—the Dongelexor field in Aktobe region and the Aiyrtau-II (Eastern) field in Atyrau region. The blocks are spread across Atyrau, Aktobe, West Kazakhstan, Kostanay, Pavlodar, Kyzylorda, and Ulytau regions. Azh.kz reported that the total starting signing bonus exceeds 1.14 billion tenge, and preliminary minimum geological exploration works for the 24 exploration blocks are estimated at $69 million.
Key Blocks
Among the most prospective are the North Turgai-1 and North Turgai-2 blocks in Kostanay region, with estimated resources of over 80 million and 70 million tonnes of fuel equivalent, respectively, and combined starting bonuses of around 193.6 million tenge, according to Kursiv.kz. The Priirtyshsky-2 block in Pavlodar region holds over 25 million tonnes of fuel equivalent, with a starting bonus of 93.6 million tenge, and is linked to the oil-rich West Siberian basin. In Kyzylorda region, the Aral Yuzhny and Aral Severny-2 blocks each hold over 60 million tonnes of fuel equivalent, with bonuses of 67.7 million and 61.3 million tenge, located in the proven South Torgai oil and gas zone. The Zharkaiyn Severny block in Kostanay (over 20 million tonnes) and the producing Dongelexor field in Aktobe (bonus 43.25 million tenge) are also featured. Azh.kz noted that the Aiyrtau-II field, with a 1.11 sq km area and a signing bonus of 43.25 million tenge, has zones where subsoil use operations are restricted.
What's Next
The immediate next event is the August 11, 2026 auction for the nine blocks from the previous round, which will test investor appetite. However, the subdued response to the earlier offering and the large volume of new blocks cast uncertainty on whether the November auction will meet the ministry's expectations for reviving activity in Kazakhstan's oil and gas sector.
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Kazakhstan's Energy Ministry to auction 26 oil and gas blocks November 18
