ALMATY, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Operations were officially launched at the Barkhannaya gas field in southern Kazakhstan, the country's sovereign wealth fund Samruk-Kazyna said Friday.

Gas production at the field is expected to reach about 30 million cubic meters in 2026, with peak output projected at around 65 million cubic meters by 2028, said the press service of Samruk-Kazyna, which manages strategic national assets in key sectors like oil and gas.

Exploration and gas production at the field are being carried out by Kazakhstan's national gas company QazaqGaz.

The Barkhannaya field is part of the Amangeldy group of gas-condensate fields located in the Moiynkum and Talas districts of the Zhambyl Region.

Kazakhstan's gas production totaled 62.8 billion cubic meters in the first 11 months of 2025, up 16.7 percent year on year, according to Kazakh Vice Minister of Energy Sungat Yesimkhanov. ■