BUILDING OF BAKU-TBILISI-CEYHAN OIL PIPELINE CEASED IN GEORGIA DUE TO POSSIBLE ENVIRONMENTAL THREAT

After the official statement of the Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Georgia July 19 construction works were ceased at the Georgian part of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline next to Borjomi gorge. As reported by BP-Azerbaijan company, the cessation of works is due to the Ministry intention to complete the assessment of observation of security measures for BTC protection in the territory of Georgia. According to the source, it can influence the current schedule of works, however it will not tell on the overall terms of the building and exploitation of the BTC. When commenting on the official Tbilisi decision to temporarily stop the building, the Georgian Embassy in Azerbaijan told Turan news agency that “the decision in question is due to the concerns over the environmental safety in the region.”