On December 8, 2004 the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan № 2-III of December 1, 2004 «Amendments and Supplements to some legislative acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Subsoil Use and Oil Operations in the Republic of Kazakhstan» became operative.

One of the most important innovations in the legislation was the State securing a pre-emption right for the purchase of shares in subsurface use projects.

Now, «with the purpose of preserving and strengthening the resource and energy base of the national economy, in previously- concluded as well as new contracts the State will have a prior right to purchase rights being alienated by, and/or the entitlement to a share, being alienated in, any partnership, company or other legal entity empowered to use subsurface resources.