ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles from global media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s digest highlights a multibillion-dollar arbitration loss for oil majors at the Karachaganak field, talks with U.S. officials on energy cooperation, Kazakhstan’s leadership in attracting foreign investment in Central Asia, and more.
Almaty. Photo credit: Shutterstock
Oil majors lose Kazakh field dispute worth as much as $4 billion
The oil majors that operate the Karachaganak field in Kazakhstan lost an international arbitration case, leaving them liable to pay as much as $4 billion in compensation to the country’s government, according to people familiar with the matter, as reported Bloomberg on Jan. 26.
The court has yet to determine the specific amount the field’s partners, led by Eni SpA and Shell Plc, will have to pay, the people said, asking not to be named because the arbitration was not public. The Karachaganak venture may still appeal the decision, they said.
Kazakh, US officials discussing energy cooperation
Kazakhstan’s Vice Minister of Energy Sanzhar Zharkeshov held talks with representatives of the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Embassy, David Wilbor and Gordon Tate, on energy cooperation, reported Trend on Jan. 23.
Zharkeshov outlined Kazakhstan’s strategic priorities in oil and gas development, highlighting the role of major upstream projects in supporting economic growth and ensuring national energy security.
The sides also discussed cooperation in the coal sector, including the development of coal chemistry. Particular attention was paid to the potential use of modern coal processing technologies, improving production efficiency, and reducing environmental impact.
Kazakhstan launches ETA for visa-exempt travelers via QazETA mobile app
Launched in July 2025, the QazETA mobile application is now at the heart of Kazakhstan’s strategy to digitize migration services and improve the reception of foreign visitors, reported VisasNews on Jan. 20.
The app brings together, within a single digital gateway, electronic visa (e-Visa) procedures, the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) for visa-exempt travelers, and electronic residency (e-Residency) services.
Kazakhstan says Chevron promises Tengiz will be operated reliably and safely
Kazakhstan said on Thursday that U.S. oil major Chevron had assured the government it would take measures to ensure the reliable and safe operation of facilities at the Tengiz oilfield, reported Reuters on Jan. 29.
Kazakhstan said on Wednesday it was restarting the huge Tengiz oilfield in stages, aiming to reach full production in a week after three unexplained electrical fires earlier this month cost it 7.2 million barrels of oil.
Kazakhstan’s oil sector, which accounts for around 2% of daily global supply, has been hit by a series of setbacks in recent months, with the outage at Tengiz compounded by the fallout from drone strikes on the Caspian Pipeline Consortium, which carries the bulk of Kazakh oil exports out via Russia.
At a meeting with Derek Magness, managing director of Chevron’s Eurasia Business Unit, Kazakhstan’s First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar expressed concern about the incidents at the Tengiz field, which led to a temporary halt in production, the government said.
Kazakhstan maintains leadership in incoming foreign investment in Central Asia, EBRD says
Kazakhstan continues to hold a leading position in terms of attracted foreign investments in Central Asia, Hüseyin Özhan, Managing Director for Central Asia and Mongolia at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), said, reported Trend on Jan. 29.
Özhan made the statement within the frame of working sessions of the Foreign Investors’ Council’s interim meeting in Astana, chaired by Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister, Olzhas Bektenov.
“The EBRD is proud to be a partner to foreign investors who are investing in various sectors of the national economy,” Özhan said.
