On February 4, 2026, Kazakhstan State Investment Corporation and China's Intercontinental Oil and Gas Co., Ltd. officially signed a memorandum of cooperation in Beijing. The two sides will jointly invest 7.8 billion US dollars to develop the Sozak unconventional natural gas field located in the Kyzylorda region. This marks the first commercial development process of Kazakhstan's largest unconventional gas field and another milestone for Chinese energy companies investing in Kazakhstan.

Trillion reserves and huge investments

The Sozak gas field is the largest unconventional gas field that has been proved in Kazakhstan, and the total mining output is up to 1 trillion cubic meters according to the preliminary assessment. The cooperation memorandum signed this time plans a total investment of 7.8 billion US dollars, and the project will be implemented by an international consortium composed of Qatari and Chinese investors. At present, the project has entered the exploration stage, and investors plan to invest 250 million US dollars in 2026 to confirm the specific reserves of tight gas, coalbed methane, and shale gas, laying the foundation for subsequent large-scale commercial exploitation. Kazakhstan currently has discovered unconventional natural gas reserves of approximately 100 billion cubic meters.

Fill the gap in the field of Kazakhstan

Sultan Gali Kinzakulov, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Kazakhstan Investment State Company, pointed out that the development of difficult to recover reserves and unconventional natural gas is a new field for Kazakhstan, and the country currently lacks relevant core technologies, while the United States and China maintain global dominance in this field. This cooperation will introduce mining technologies that have been maturely applied by both China and the United States for many years. Jin Zakulov emphasized that these technologies will not cause damage to the environment. Chen Huanlong, Chairman of China Intercontinental Oil and Gas, stated that the company is fully prepared to invest funds and resources and hopes to receive support from the regulatory authorities in Kazakhstan. Over the past decade, the company has invested approximately 3 billion US dollars in major energy projects in Kazakhstan. Keywords: International News and Information, International News Network

Employment creation and localization commitment

According to the cooperation agreement, the project will create approximately 2000 job opportunities in the initial stage and provide over 7000 job opportunities after full production, with a commitment of no less than 90% of local employees in Kazakhstan. Investors also promise to provide systematic technical training for local employees and prioritize the selection of local goods and services in Kazakhstan during the procurement process. This series of localization commitments will make the project not only a model for energy cooperation, but also an important carrier for promoting employment and industrial upgrading in Kazakhstan, helping the country achieve its dual goals of energy strategy and economic development.Editor/Gao Xue