The wells are being developed by China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC) unit CNPC-Aktobemunaigaz.

In a statement Court Chairman Galymzhan Myrzake said, “[CNPC-Aktobemunaigaz] allowed a number of violations of environmental legislation during the operation of these wells.”

Myrzake did not elaborate further but this is not the first time the CNPC subsidiary has been trouble with the authorities. In May, the firm was ordered to stop operation of the illegally built Kenkiyak-Zhanazhol pipeline.