KazMunayGas, Türkiye’s TPAO Eye Caspian Offshore Project

In Ankara, Chairman of the Management Board of Kazakhstan's KazMunayGas (KMG) Askhat Khassenov has met with Cem Erdem, head of Türkiye’s state-owned Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO), to discuss expanding bilateral energy cooperation.

The talks focused on strengthening collaboration in geological exploration, hydrocarbon production, and investment attraction, The Caspian Post reports via KMG.

Since the signing of a confidentiality agreement in June 2025, KMG and TPAO have been actively exchanging information and jointly reviewing exploration opportunities in both Kazakhstan and Türkiye.

As part of this process, Turkish specialists previously took part in detailed technical sessions and were granted access to geological data on promising exploration blocks in Kazakhstan. Following the initial assessment, TPAO has shown particular interest in the Bolshoy Zhambyl offshore project in the North Caspian. The Turkish company is currently conducting its own in-depth technical and economic evaluation of the site.

Khassenov confirmed KMG’s full readiness to move to the practical implementation stage of the project once the assessment is completed. Both sides reaffirmed their mutual interest in further strengthening the partnership across key areas of cooperation.

Founded in 1954, TPAO is an integrated state oil company engaged in exploration, production, refining, and marketing. It plays a central role in Türkiye’s strategy to boost hydrocarbon output, particularly in the Black Sea and eastern regions. Beyond domestic projects, TPAO is also active in Azerbaijan, Algeria, and offshore areas near Northern Cyprus, and operates its own fleet of seismic and drilling vessels-underscoring its growing international footprint.