Law No. 779-12 on subsoil.

Subsoil is the part of the earth’s crust situated under the soil and the bottom of water bodies that is accessible for geological research and exploration. Subsoil and its resources pertain to the exclusive property of the state. Purchase and sale of subsoil is prohibited (art. 3). Subsoil can be conceded in use for the following purposes: 1) geological study; 2) extraction of minerals; 3) creation of protected areas; 4) picking up collection materials (art. 6). Use of some parts of subsoil can be restricted or prohibited for the purpose of prevention of environmental pollution (art. 7). Subsoil shall be conceded to legal and physical persons in conformity with licences (art. 9). Geological exploration of subsoil conceded for the purpose of extraction of minerals and also for purposes non-connected with the mineral extraction shall be subject to state record and registration (art. 21). Fees shall be collected from the managers of subsoil on the territory of Turkmenistan, its EEZ and continental shelf (art. 31). The Law consists of 7 Sections composed of 43 articles.