Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
May 29 2006
Caspian Oil Reaches Turkey’s Mediterranean Port Ceyhan Print
Monday , 29 May 2006
* The Azerbaijani oil has reached Turkey’s Mediterranean port Ceyhan
at 21:10 last night (Sunday).
BAKU – The Project of the Century Baku-Thbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) Oil
Pipeline experienced a pinnacle moment yesterday, on Saturday.
Oil that was pumped from the Baku end of the pipeline, the
construction of which began 6 years ago, on May 10 reached Ceyhan
yesterday evening after a journey of 1,770 kms.
The first oil was stored in special tanks and the oil will be
transported by “The British Hawtharne” tanker.
The Baku-Tiblisi-Ceyhan Pipeline is 1768 km, its 1076 km part is in
Turkey.
The first drops of oil were expected to be loaded from Haydar Aliyev
Sea Terminal onto a ship named, `The British Hawtharne’ on May 28;
however, officials from the BTC said they may wait a couple of days
for better loading conditions.
An official ceremony to celebrate the first drop of oil reaching
Ceyhan from Baku will be held on July 13.
Presidents and prime ministers of Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia, and
related ministers and representatives from 16 countries will
participate in the ceremony.
The BTC pipeline is expected to make a major contribution to the
development of world energy supply with its annual 50 million ton
capacity.
Thanks to this project, which was created with a sustainable
environmental and economic system, Turkey is expected to earn about
$300 million annually.
Around 15,000 people were employed during the construction of the
pipeline which cost $3 billion.
The project constituted an important leg of the East-West energy
corridor, gaining Turkey greater geopolitical importance thanks to
the BTC pipeline.
Ceyhan will be an important international oil market and the
reduction of oil tanker traffic on the Bosphorous will contribute to
greater security for Istanbul.
High-Quality Crude
The crude flows 1,768km from the Caspian Sea direct to the
Mediterranean for the first time, bypassing Russian pipelines and
Turkish straits.
About 300,000 barrels a day will be pumped from the pipeline this
year – set to rise to a million barrels daily.
The pipe begins near Baku in Azerbaijan and passes through Georgia.
Previously states in the region sent almost all of their oil via
Russian pipelines.
The Caspian area produces high-quality light crude but has suffered
because of difficulty getting the oil to consumers in Europe, the US,
China and Japan.
Turkey Benefits $300 Million Annually
In addition to opening up an alternative supply to the West, it will
provide Turkey with $300 million in revenue annually. The Turkish leg
of the BTC cost $1.4 billion, while the total cost exceeded $3
billion.
Georgia Will Also Benefits
Geogia has also welcomed the development. The BTC will not only
contribute to the Geogian economy, it also support Geogia’s
independence against the Russian and Armenian threats.
The fiercely pro-Washington government of Georgia’s president,
Mikhail Saakashvili, welcomed the BTC with open arms, saying transit
payments would help to kick-start the economy of the faltering
ex-Soviet state.
Security Alert
British The Guardian yesterday reported that the security men are on
alert before the historical day. According to the paper, a possible
terrorist attack is the greatest threat the pipeline faces. The
Kurdish terrorist organisation PKK and the separatist groups in
Georgia are considered the biggest threats against the project.
Russia and Armenia were also not happy with the project. Turkish
experts warn about the Armenian terrorism.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress