SOCAR marks 20 years of BTC with operatorship handover from bp PHOTO

A ceremony marking the 20th anniversary of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil export pipeline and the transfer of BTC operatorship, along with the unified operatorship of the BTC and South Caucasus Pipeline (SCP) systems, to SOCAR was held at the Sangachal Terminal on July 2.

According to SOCAR, bp's Regional President for Azerbaijan, Georgia and Türkiye, Gio Cristofoli, highlighted the BTC pipeline's achievements over the past two decades, its international importance and bp's long-standing role as operator, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

He expressed confidence that SOCAR would continue to uphold the highest standards of safety, reliability and operational excellence while further strengthening its long-term cooperation with bp and the project's other partners.

SOCAR President Rovshan Najaf described the BTC pipeline as one of the landmark achievements of Azerbaijan's modern energy strategy initiated by National Leader Heydar Aliyev.

He said the project had created a strategic energy corridor connecting the Caspian region with the Mediterranean through the Black Sea basin and had fundamentally reshaped the transportation of Caspian energy resources to global markets.

Najaf noted that SOCAR's assumption of BTC operatorship, together with the unified operatorship of the BTC and SCP systems, marks another significant stage in the country's energy development and reflects the company's more than 30 years of operational experience and professional expertise.

Deputy Economy Minister Anar Akhundov said the BTC pipeline has made a substantial contribution over the past 20 years to Azerbaijan's energy sector, sustainable economic development and regional cooperation.

While acknowledging bp's successful management of the pipeline during that period, he described the transfer of operatorship to SOCAR as a natural result of the company's extensive experience and capabilities gained through years of international cooperation.

Deputy Energy Minister Kamal Abbasov made it clear that the BTC pipeline has become a symbol of regional cooperation and dependable international partnership. He noted that its significance extends beyond the volume of oil transported, reflecting the trust, collaboration and lasting partnerships it has helped build among countries, companies and peoples across the region.

Elkhan Sultanov, bp's Pipeline Operations Manager and a veteran of the oil industry, said he had been involved in the BTC project since its initial stages and was pleased to continue contributing to its successful operation under SOCAR's operatorship. He added that ensuring the pipeline's safe, reliable and efficient performance would remain the top priority.

The ceremony concluded with Rovshan Najaf and Gio Cristofoli jointly pressing a symbolic control button to officially mark the transfer of BTC operatorship and the unified operatorship of the BTC and SCP systems to SOCAR.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov