Energy and Natural Resources in Kazakhstan

Subsoil Use Licence Acquisitions

Legal due diligence on subsoil use licence chains — verifying absence of regulatory non-compliance at any point in the transfer history. Managing the state pre-emption right notification procedure to the Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development under Article 36 of the Subsoil and Subsoil Use Code, obtaining written waiver before any licence transfer is registered. Advising on participation interest obligations, local content conditions, and work programme commitments inherited from the prior licence regime. The state pre-emption right notification is the most frequently missed compliance obligation in Kazakhstani subsoil asset acquisitions — failure to notify and obtain waiver invalidates the transfer. See: Energy & Subsoil Use Licensing →

Oil & Gas M&A and Due Diligence

Full-scope legal due diligence on Kazakhstan oil and gas assets — corporate title, subsoil use licence chain, environmental compliance and legacy obligations, EPC and offtake contract review, employment matters, and regulatory approvals. SPA negotiation and structuring. AZRK competition clearance where required. Bond Stone has managed oil and gas M&A due diligence mandates for Chinese, Australian, and European buyers entering Kazakhstan. See: Legal Due Diligence Kazakhstan →

Renewable Energy Project Structuring

Advising on Kazakhstan’s renewable energy framework under the Law on Support of Use of Renewable Energy Sources — wind, solar, and hydropower project development, power purchase agreement (PPA) review and negotiation, investment contract structuring with the government, regulatory approvals from the Ministry of Energy, and grid connection agreements with KEGOC. Bond Stone has advised on renewable energy project M&A and investment structuring for international sponsors and off-takers in the Kazakhstan renewable energy market.

Investment Contracts with the Government

Drafting and negotiating investment contracts between foreign investors and the Kazakhstani government for energy and infrastructure projects — tax stabilisation provisions, state support obligations, local content requirements, environmental permitting commitments, and dispute resolution clauses. Bond Stone has structured investment contracts for Chinese energy investors entering Kazakhstan on EPC and project development mandates.

EPC Contract Review & Advisory

Reviewing and advising on EPC (engineering, procurement, and construction) contracts for energy and infrastructure projects in Kazakhstan — risk allocation, performance guarantee structures, delay and disruption provisions, force majeure, variation mechanisms, and dispute resolution. Bond Stone has advised Chinese EPC contractors and project owners on EPC contract structures for hydropower, oil and gas, and industrial facility projects in Kazakhstan.

Energy Sector Joint Ventures

Structuring joint ventures for energy project development between foreign sponsors and Kazakhstani partners — JV agreement drafting, participant pre-emption rights analysis under the Law on LLPs, government notification requirements, subsoil licence assignment conditions, and AIFC intermediate holding vehicle structuring for tax efficiency. See: Joint Ventures in Kazakhstan →

Environmental Permitting & Compliance

Advising on environmental permitting for energy and mining projects — environmental impact assessment requirements, permitted emission limits, waste management obligations, rehabilitation fund obligations under the Subsoil Code, and legacy environmental liability assessment in subsoil asset acquisitions. Bond Stone advises on environmental compliance as an integrated component of energy project M&A due diligence and post-acquisition integration.

Mining Sector M&A

Legal due diligence and transaction structuring for acquisitions of Kazakhstani mining assets — solid mineral subsoil use licences, licence chain verification, state pre-emption right notification, participation interest obligations, local content compliance, environmental rehabilitation fund assessment, and AZRK merger control notification. Kazakhstan holds significant gold, copper, uranium, and rare earth reserves that attract international mining investors requiring Kazakhstani legal support on acquisition mandates. See: Mining & Metals Industry →

Energy & Subsoil Use Licensing

Subsoil use licence categories, application procedure, state pre-emption right, local content obligations — Read more →

M&A in Kazakhstan

Full M&A cycle — due diligence, SPA negotiation, AZRK clearance — for energy and mining sector acquisitions — Read more →

Legal Due Diligence Kazakhstan

Corporate title, subsoil licence chain, environmental compliance, EPC contracts, employment — energy sector due diligence — Read more →

Foreign Investment in Kazakhstan

Investment contracts, tax incentives, SEZs, profit repatriation — for energy sector foreign investors entering Kazakhstan — Read more →

Energy & Natural Resources Industry Hub

Kazakhstan’s energy sector overview — oil and gas, renewable energy, uranium, mining — Bond Stone’s industry presence — Read more →

KazMunayGaz / CEFC China Energy — KMG International acquisition

Oil & Gas  ·  Kazakhstan  ·  China  ·  M&A

Bond Stone acted as lead Kazakhstani counsel on CEFC China Energy’s acquisition of a 51% stake in KazMunayGaz International — holding the Petromidia Navodari refinery in Romania and Eastern European fuel distribution assets. Kazakhstani legal layer: corporate structuring, regulatory approvals, state notification requirements, and coordination with international counsel teams. Kazakhstan’s largest single Chinese corporate investment. Transaction value: USD 3.68 billion.

Moinak Hydropower Plant — CWE / China Three Gorges

Hydropower  ·  Kazakhstan  ·  China  ·  Project Development

Bond Stone acted as legal consultant for China International Water and Electric Corporation (CWE, a subsidiary of China Three Gorges Corporation) on the Moinak Hydropower Plant — 300MW facility on the Charyn River, Almaty Region. Kazakhstan’s first major Sino-Kazakh energy infrastructure project. Investment contract structuring with the Kazakhstani government, EPC contract review, environmental permitting, government liaison through to commissioning. Transaction value: USD 360 million.

CWE Alternative Energy — renewable energy portfolio mandate

Renewable Energy  ·  Kazakhstan  ·  China  ·  Ongoing Mandate

Ongoing Kazakhstani counsel for CWE (China Three Gorges) on its renewable energy portfolio mandate in Kazakhstan — wind, solar, and hydropower project assessment, M&A advisory for project acquisitions, investment contract structuring, and regulatory compliance under the Law on Support of Renewable Energy Sources. Multi-project mandate.

Borly Copper Processing Plant

Mining  ·  Kazakhstan  ·  Project Development

All corporate, licensing, construction permitting, and regulatory matters for a 5,000 tonne/year cathode copper processing facility at the Borly deposit, Karaganda Region — subsoil use licence compliance, construction licensing, environmental permitting, and local content advisory. Transaction value: USD 19.6 million

KEGOC national grid legal audit

Energy  ·  Kazakhstan  ·  Infrastructure

Legal audit of Kazakhstan’s national electricity transmission operator (KEGOC) for infrastructure investor clients — corporate compliance, regulatory risk, licence framework, concession structure, and regulatory exposure assessment. Mandate value: USD 13 million.

Subsoil licence acquisition — international mining investor

Mining  ·  Kazakhstan  ·  Subsoil

Advising an international mining investor on the acquisition of a Kazakhstan subsoil use licence — licence chain due diligence, state pre-emption right notification to the Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development under Article 36 of the Subsoil Code, written waiver obtained before any transfer registered, and participation interest obligation analysis inherited from the prior contractual regime.

Tengizchevroil — ongoing legal support

Oil & Gas  ·  Kazakhstan  ·  Chevron

Bond Stone has provided ongoing legal support to Tengizchevroil — the Chevron-operated oil and gas joint venture at the Tengiz field, one of the world’s largest oil fields — for construction and regulatory matters at the Kulsary project in Atyrau Region.

Why Bond Stone for Kazakhstan Energy & Natural Resources

✦ 18+ years energy sector experience in Kazakhstan — Sanat Ablakov has personally led Bond Stone’s energy practice since 2007, advising on landmark transactions including CWE’s Moinak HPP (USD 360 million) and CEFC’s KMG International acquisition (USD 3.68 billion)

✦ Chinese investor expertise — Bond Stone is Kazakhstan’s go-to firm for Chinese energy investors entering through EPC, M&A, and joint venture structures — with established relationships with CWE, China Three Gorges, and CEFC China Energy

✦ Subsoil Code specialist — state pre-emption right notification, local content compliance, and licence chain due diligence managed as conditions precedent in every energy M&A mandate

✦ Full transaction cycle on one mandate — energy M&A due diligence, licence compliance, EPC review, investment contract, and AZRK clearance without separate specialist counsel for each workstream

✦ Ranked Legal 500 EMEA and IFLR1000 in Kazakhstan — Almaty and Astana offices