"Till now, all cores, namely the samples, have been sent to other countries. We do not have laboratories that could work in line with international standards. Most of our investors are foreigners, and they want that everything corresponded to the international standards. When the core is sent, laboratory tests are conducted, but all information is gone. As a result we do not own information about what is in our subsoil," Nurzhanov said in Astana at a round table under the theme `Perspectives and main directions of development of geology and subsoil use sphere in Kazakhstan`.
According to Nurzhanov, it was decided to create a geological cluster in Kazakhstan in order to improve this situation.
"The government decided to establish a geological cluster. We are developing this project together with the Nazarbayev University. The university has announced a feasibility study. The construction is planned for the third quarter of 2014," he said.
Nurzhanov added that about seven hectares were allocated for the project. This area will include laboratories corresponding to international standards and core storages, he added.
"The amount is still being calculated, but the Nazarbayev University completely undertakes the centre`s construction, and the provision of equipment is undertaken by the Kazgeology. Equipment worth 800 million tenges (153.77 tenge = 1 dollar) will be purchased from our side. We assume that there will be about 1,000 employees including all structures," Nurzhanov said.
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