Описание проекта

The Northern-1 project is a strategic initiative to explore and develop one of Kazakhstan’s most promising natural gas fields, located in the western region of the country. QazaqGaz, the national gas operator, and China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), a leading global energy company, have signed agreements to advance the project into its next phase. The agreements include a financing arrangement to fully support the exploration stage and a joint operations agreement enabling geological surveys and drilling operations. CNPC’s subsidiary, CNPC-Aktobemunaygaz, has committed to providing full funding for the exploration program, including seismic data acquisition and at least one deep exploratory well. The project aims to expand Kazakhstan’s domestic gas resource base and strengthen long-term supply security for regional markets. It will also introduce advanced exploration and extraction technologies through the partnership with CNPC. Northern-1 is expected to become a cornerstone asset in Kazakhstan’s gas portfolio and a key contributor to future industrial-scale production. The initiative reflects a broader strategy to enhance upstream capabilities and attract international investment in the country’s energy sector. The project is significant both for its scale and for fostering strategic Sino-Kazakh cooperation in natural gas development. It also serves as a model for integrating foreign expertise with national operators to accelerate exploration and eventual commercialization. Once the exploration phase is completed successfully, the project will move toward planning and construction of full-scale production infrastructure. The collaboration positions Kazakhstan to increase its competitiveness as a regional energy supplier.