In June 2025, Just Finance International (JFI) published the report titled A Broken Promise: Kazakhstan refuses to end oil extraction on crucial aquifer, documenting the potential risks of reversal of Kazakhstan government's pledge in decommissioning oil extraction on the Kokzhide aquifer, announced in 2023. Lack of transparency from official data contributed to the heightened difficulties in holding oil companies accountable.

Oil extraction on the Kokzhide aquifer had been reported to have polluted underground water, caused desertification and thereby impacting local communities' rights to water and livelihoods. JFI called on investors and operating oil companies to exercise their share- and bondholder influence in implementing concrete, measurable and urgent action to protect the Kokzhide aquifer.

The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited CNPC, Sinopec and KazMunayGas to respond to the allegation. They did not respond.