Графика: raem.kz
Kazakhstan has approved rules requiring oil and gas companies to allocate up to 1% of the previous year’s production costs to digitization projects each year. Funding will go through the Astana Hub fund. Only cluster members can bid for the contracts, according to kursiv.media.
Funding covers AI, robotics and digital twins
The Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence signed the joint order. The requirement applies from the second calendar year of oil and gas production. The calculation takes into account money the company has already spent on research and development in the current year.
The rules cover several areas of digitization. Funding can go towards artificial intelligence to model production processes and improve extraction efficiency, as well as robotics and unmanned technologies.
Another area is digital twins of oil and gas fields. These virtual models help predict different field development scenarios. The rules also allow funding for sensors to monitor facilities remotely and for energy-saving solutions.
Only Astana Hub cluster members can bid
An oil and gas company must submit an application to the fund with technical specifications, an estimated cost and a project plan. The Ministry of Energy’s Scientific and Technical Council has up to one month to review it. The fund then has another month to assess the project.
If the project is approved, the fund will hold a tender for contractors. The tender process can take up to two months. A commission with representatives from the ministries and the oil and gas company will select the winner.
Here’s an important detail: only companies in the Astana Hub cluster can bid. The winner will sign a three-party contract with the fund and the oil and gas company. The oil and gas company itself will inspect and accept the completed work.
Funds unused after three years go to the budget
Several oil and gas companies can jointly fund a single project. The rules also allow projects to be carried out in stages over three consecutive years.
If the money transferred is not used within three years, it will go to the national budget to fund research and development in subsoil use. The same procedure applies to unspent funds if a subsoil use contract is terminated.
The Ministry of Energy will monitor companies’ compliance with these obligations. The fund must report on funds received and unspent balances by January 30 each year. The report will also include details of approved projects and signed contracts.
Previously, the process was governed by a joint order dated October 30, 2020. Oil and gas companies could select contractors themselves through procurement and sign contracts with them. Under the new rules, funding will go through the Astana Hub fund, and contractors will be selected from cluster members after projects have been assessed.
Related reading: Nedra.kz.
