Part of the oil field is located within a protected North Caspian Sea nature reserve (it was declared as such during the Soviet era and all hydrocarbon extractions were banned) with its unique biodiversity, including endangered Beluga sturgeon and the Caspian seal [4]. According to the geologist Muftah Diarov, a few years back numerous birds were burnt as a result of Kashagan’s new processing plant operations and the public was not informed of that until several weeks later [5]. Additionally, in September 2013, a major hydrogen sulphide (dangerous toxic gas found in large amount in the Kashagan oil) [6] leak occurred at the refinery as a result of a burst pipe, and the operating company flared 2.8 million cubic meters of sour gas, r[6]. Ever since, the Kazakhstani ecological authorities have fined NCOC a sum of 737$ US million for large-scale damages to the environment, but the final decision has not been made to date [6] [September 2014].

Also, as a part of Production Sharing Agreement’s (PSA) required consultation with the public and all interested parties in March 2013 [3] [5] numerous concerns regarding the safety and accident prevention on the field were raised. Namely, what happens if mercaptans are discharged, where the polygons for storing liquid and hard waste are, if the rescue plane arrives in 72 hours after an accident what is going to happen to the spill in the meanwhile, why the NCOC ships will be present in the protected nature reserve area, will citizens experience further shortages of potable water, what compensation will be offered to the citizens, and many other vital questions [6]. Specifically, local ecologists addressed the recurring issue of public access to information, as most of the environmental reports are not available to public and since 2006 residents have had limited to zero participation in the consultation [3]. Several NGOs have published information on the inadequate to unlivable conditions, poor and deteriorating health, low level of income and inaccessibility to/ absence of infrastructure for population of nearby towns and settlements [3] [7]. Numerous issues associated with the oilfield are still present. Nevertheless, the project is moving ahead. As Kazakhstan President N. Nazarbaev noted, ‘I am confident that despite escalating complications, we will be able to solve problems we face with the project’ [8].

-Originally the plan for extraction was 1.5 million of barrels/ day (b/d). As the result of numerous complications, the current plan is to extract 350,000 b/d starting in 2016.

-The oil contained in a reservoir with extremely high pressure and lethal concentration of H2S (hydrogen sulfide).

- As of 12 Aug 2014, the companies listed below had stakes in the NCOC (the consortium) and Agip KCO (daughter company of Italian Eni S.p. A.) was the operator of the project.