Shell and Kazakhstan have formalized a new partnership focused on oil and gas exploration with the signing of an agreement covering the Zhanaturmys block in western Kazakhstan. The agreement was signed on 5th March 2026 by Kazakhstan’s Deputy Energy Minister Yerlan Akbarov and Suzanne Coogan, Senior Vice President and Country Chair at Shell Kazakhstan. The arrangement establishes cooperation between the two sides on activities linked to oil and gas exploration, including seismic exploration, data collection, and technical evaluation of potential hydrocarbon resources within the Zhanaturmys block. According to Kazakhstan’s Energy Ministry, the project represents a structured effort to examine the resource potential of the block through technical studies and exploration programs carried out jointly by the partners.
Under the terms of the agreement, the contract will remain in effect until 2032, reflecting the scale and complexity of the exploration effort planned for the region. The Zhanaturmys block spans 1,377 square kilometers, or 532 square miles, an area the ministry described as requiring extensive technical assessment and seismic work to evaluate its full potential for oil and gas exploration. Officials said the block lies within one of Kazakhstan’s most promising oil and gas basins, raising expectations that exploration activities could contribute to expanding the country’s hydrocarbon development efforts. The ministry noted that the geological characteristics of the region make it a significant candidate for further study and possible future resource development as part of broader oil and gas exploration initiatives across Kazakhstan.
Suzanne Coogan said the agreement highlights Shell’s continued engagement in Kazakhstan’s energy sector. The energy ministry reported that Coogan commented that the agreement reaffirms Shell’s commitment to long-term cooperation with Kazakhstan. The partnership reflects ongoing collaboration between the government and international companies as the country seeks to strengthen its position in global hydrocarbon production through targeted oil and gas exploration projects.
The new exploration agreement comes at a time when Shell and several other international majors are involved in legal disputes and arbitration proceedings with Kazakhstan connected to two major producing projects in the country. One of the most prominent developments is the Kashagan oilfield, which is being developed by the North Caspian Project consortium of international majors that includes Shell alongside Kazakhstan’s state oil firm KazMunayGas. Kazakhstan currently faces several arbitration cases involving claims totaling as much as $166 billion against the majors, largely linked to damages associated with delays at the Kashagan oilfield. Despite those disputes, the newly signed exploration agreement indicates that cooperation on oil and gas exploration projects between Kazakhstan and international partners continues.
