[1] It is one of the world's largest pipelines[1] and a major export route for oil from the Kashagan and Karachaganak fields.

[3] CPC was initially created in 1992 as a development by the Russian, Kazakhstani and Omani governments to build a dedicated pipeline from Kazakhstan to export routes in the Black Sea.

Production companies financed the construction cost of US$2.67 billion, while the Russian Federation contributed unused pipeline assets worth US$293 million.

[9] On May 21, 2019, the annual meeting of CPC shareholders adopted the Bottleneck Elimination Program (BEP), which provides for expansion of the Tengiz - Novorossiysk oil pipeline capacity to at least 72.5 million tons per year.

In addition, about 15% of the rest of Kazakhstan's oil exports are also transferred through Russia[2] (while about 5% is sent to China or to various other destinations over rail and the Caspian Sea[2]).

After the 6 July suspension of the pipeline, Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev ordered the government of his country's to diversify its oil supply routes.

In November 2024 the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists and 26 media partners published the report "Caspian Cabals" to put public interests on environmental damage, but also to allegations of financial corruption and geopolitical threats.

[16] As part of a new sanctions package against Russia imposed on 10 January 2025, the U.S. Department of the Treasury granted exemptions for oilfield services related to the CPC.

[17] On 17 February 2025, on the eve of talks between the U.S. and Russian officials on ending the war in Ukraine, a drone attack by Ukrainian Air Force on a pumping station damaged energy equipment, a gas turbine unit, and a substation.