The natural resources of the Akmola region are rich and diverse, including deposits of common minerals – crushed stone, sand, kaolin, clay, limestone, quartzite, dolomite, etc.

The geographical location of the region to the capital creates a demand for construction materials for the construction of residential and non-residential facilities, reconstruction of road infrastructure of national significance.

To date, the region is developing 170 OPI deposits, of which the main part is located around the city of Nur-Sultan.

The code of the Republic of Kazakhstan «On subsoil and subsoil use» adopted in June 2018 established new rules for industry participants. The main purpose of the adoption of this Code is to create conditions for the development of business activities in the field of subsurface use on the principle of «first come, first get».

The code provides for the availability of geological information, the transition to a license regime for conducting subsurface use operations, and transitional mechanisms for maintaining a balance of interests for existing subsurface use contracts in order to preserve budget revenues and stability of subsurface use conditions. For the development of small placer deposits of precious metals, a license for prospecting is provided.

The implementation of the Code contributes to the creation of new jobs, products, increased tax revenues, and the development of individual regions of the region.

The main purpose of subsurface use is to grant the right of subsurface use in order to develop the raw materials sector of the economy.

The main tasks of the Department of entrepreneurship and industry of the Akmola region in the field of subsurface use of common minerals (OPI):

1) organization of a meeting of the working group on amendments and additions to the contract for subsurface use;

2) conclusion, registration and storage of contracts for exploration and production of common minerals in accordance with the procedure and conditions established by The law of the Republic of Kazakhstan «On subsoil and subsurface use» in accordance with paragraph 3 of article 278 Of the code of the Republic of Kazakhstan «On subsoil and subsurface use»;

3) organization of the meeting of the expert Commission on subsoil use issues;

4) issue of permission to transfer the right of subsurface use and (or) objects related to the right of subsurface use;

5) issuing an opinion on the absence or insignificance of minerals in the subsoil under the site of the upcoming development;

6) issuing a permit for the development of mineral deposits;

7) organization of a meeting of the Commission on contracts for the extraction of common minerals;

8) monitoring of fulfillment of obligations by subsurface users under the contract (license) for subsurface use;

9) control over compliance by subsoil users with the terms of contracts for exploration and (or) production of common minerals;

10) control over compliance by subsoil users with the terms of licenses for the extraction of common minerals, for prospecting;

11) state control over the conduct of operations for the extraction of common minerals, prospecting;

12) conducting inspections in accordance with The business code of the Republic of Kazakhstan;

13) consideration of cases of administrative offenses;

14) termination of contracts for the exploration and (or) extraction of common minerals, licenses for the extraction of common minerals, for prospecting;

15) provision of public services;

16) issuing a license for the extraction of common minerals and prospecting;

17) creation of a Commission for acceptance of works on elimination of consequences of subsurface use operations;

18) issuing a permit for exploration or production of common minerals used in construction (reconstruction) and repair of public roads, state-owned Railways, as well as for the reconstruction and repair of hydraulic structures and hydraulic structures.