[2] KazTransGas was founded in 2000 as a subsidiary of KazMunayGas to manage Kazakhstan's natural gas pipeline infrastructure.
It forms part of the larger 7,500-kilometer Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan-Kazakhstan-China pipeline, traversing South Kazakhstan, Zhambyl, and Almaty regions.
An investigation by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) reported on indirect ties between Sharipbaev and companies that subsequently received major contracts from KazTransGas and the Government of Kazakhstan.
A key point of contention was the awarding of an $860 million contract to construct a gas processing plant to GPC Investment, a firm with reported links to a business associate of Sharipbaev.
The report further raised concerns about the selection process, which favored GPC Investment over established international energy companies.