Energy Ministry Proposes Canceling CT-KZ Certificate for Local Producers

Kazakhstan’s Energy Ministry has proposed eliminating the CT-KZ and industrial certificates, which currently verify the local origin of products, Orda.kz reports.

On July 14, the Ministry published a draft order on the Open NLA portal regulating how subsoil users procure goods, services, and works during the exploration and production of hydrocarbons, including oil, gas, and coal.

One of the key provisions is the proposal to remove the requirement for CT-KZ and industrial certificates. The Ministry explained this by pointing to the upcoming launch of a new Kazakh Manufacturers Register on January 1, 2026, which will replace the current domestic producers’ registry.

The draft also includes additional changes:

• Grouping purchases by category, to prevent companies from bundling unrelated items — such as spare parts — into a single lot to bypass rules on local content
  
• Allowing second-round reviews of tender submissions instead of launching full re-tenders, to speed up procurement.
  
• Blocking "tender mill" bidders — companies that lack real capacity to fulfill contracts
  
• Requiring non-resident contractors to hire Kazakhstani subcontractors, even for work done outside Kazakhstan

Unlike many recent documents, this draft includes relatively detailed commentary. 

Public discussion will continue on the Open NLA portal through July 29.

Original Author: Igor Ulitin