Galym Nurzhanov. Photo courtesy of KazGeologia
Kazakhstan is not fully aware of what is contained in its subsurface treasuries, Tengrinews reports, citing Galym Nurzhanov, Chairman of KazGeologia (National Geological Exploration Company) Board of Directors. “Up to now some core samples are send abroad as Kazakhstan is still facing shortage of duly certified laboratories that would meet the applicable international standards. As you know many investors would want geological research held in line with international standards. When core samples are sent abroad, Kazakhstan loses information control as investing companies may conceal certain information. As a result, Kazakhstan is not fully aware of what is contained in its subsurface”, Mr. Nurzhanov said at a round-table discussion on prospects of geological exploration in Kazakhstan. “The country’s government has decided to set up a so-called geological exploration cluster. In partnership with the Nazarbayev University we are working out a master plan and a feasibility study. Construction works are to be started next year. The cluster will take 7 hectares to accommodate laboratories, core materials storages and other required facilities”, he elaborated. “The amount of investments is still being estimated; the Nazarbayev University will be overseeing the project, whereas KazGeologia will be in charge of supplying the right equipment worth 800 million tenge”, he added. According to Britannica, a core sample is a roughly cylindrical piece of subsurface material removed by a special drill and brought to the surface for examination. Such a sample is needed to ascertain bulk properties of underground rock, such as its porosity and permeability, or to investigate the peculiar features of a given zone of strata (e.g., to compare strata at a given level with those known to bear oil or gas). By Baubek Konyrov
Kazakhstan is not fully aware of what is contained in its subsurface treasuries, Tengrinews reports, citing Galym Nurzhanov, Chairman of KazGeologia (National Geological Exploration Company) Board of Directors.
“Up to now some core samples are send abroad as Kazakhstan is still facing shortage of duly certified laboratories that would meet the applicable international standards. As you know many investors would want geological research held in line with international standards. When core samples are sent abroad, Kazakhstan loses information control as investing companies may conceal certain information. As a result, Kazakhstan is not fully aware of what is contained in its subsurface”, Mr. Nurzhanov said at a round-table discussion on prospects of geological exploration in Kazakhstan.
“The country’s government has decided to set up a so-called geological exploration cluster. In partnership with the Nazarbayev University we are working out a master plan and a feasibility study. Construction works are to be started next year. The cluster will take 7 hectares to accommodate laboratories, core materials storages and other required facilities”, he elaborated.
“The amount of investments is still being estimated; the Nazarbayev University will be overseeing the project, whereas KazGeologia will be in charge of supplying the right equipment worth 800 million tenge”, he added.
According to Britannica, a core sample is a roughly cylindrical piece of subsurface material removed by a special drill and brought to the surface for examination. Such a sample is needed to ascertain bulk properties of underground rock, such as its porosity and permeability, or to investigate the peculiar features of a given zone of strata (e.g., to compare strata at a given level with those known to bear oil or gas).
By Baubek Konyrov