Today, a ceremony was held at the Sangachal Terminal to mark the 20th anniversary of the Baku‑Tbilisi‑Ceyhan (BTC) oil export pipeline, as well as the transfer of operatorship of BTC and the unified operatorship of the BTC and South Caucasus Pipeline (SCP) systems to the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR), Report informs, citing SOCAR.
BP's Regional President for Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Türkiye, Geo Cristofoli, spoke at the event, highlighting the successes of BTC over the past 20 years, the project's international significance, and the company's long‑term effective role as operator. He expressed confidence that SOCAR would successfully maintain the existing high standards of safety, reliability, and operational excellence during the pipeline's operation, and noted that close and long‑term cooperation with SOCAR and other partners would be further strengthened.
SOCAR President Rovshan Najaf, noting that the BTC pipeline is one of the most important achievements of Azerbaijan's modern energy strategy, initiated by National Leader Heydar Aliyev, stated that BTC has formed a strategic energy corridor connecting the Caspian region with the Mediterranean Sea via the Black Sea basin and fundamentally changed the model for exporting the Caspian's energy resources to international markets. He said that the transfer of BTC operatorship, as well as unified operatorship of BTC and SCP systems, to SOCAR marks another important milestone in the development of Azerbaijan's energy sector, and emphasised that this significant event demonstrates SOCAR's rich operational experience and professional capabilities built up over more than three decades.
Deputy Minister of Economy Anar Akhundov noted in his speech that over the past 20 years, the BTC pipeline has made a significant contribution not only to the development of Azerbaijan's energy sector but also to the country's sustainable economic progress and the strengthening of regional cooperation. Acknowledging BP's successful activities as operator of the BTC pipeline over the past two decades, the Deputy Minister stressed that the transfer of pipeline operatorship to SOCAR is the logical outcome of the professional knowledge and operational capabilities formed over many years in an environment of international partnership.
Deputy Minister of Energy Kamal Abbasov said that BTC holds special significance as a symbol of regional cooperation and reliable international partnership. He noted that the project's value cannot be measured solely by the volume of oil transported over the past 20 years, but is also reflected in the trust, cooperation, and long‑term partnership relations it has fostered between countries, companies, and peoples.
Veteran oil worker Elkhan Sultanov, BP's Manager for Pipeline Operations, said in his speech that he had been involved in the BTC project from its early days and expressed his satisfaction at continuing to contribute to the successful operation of this strategic project at the stage when operatorship has been transferred to SOCAR. He stated that ensuring safe, reliable, and efficient operation of the pipeline remains a key priority.
Afterwards, Rovshan Najaf and Geo Cristofoli pressed a symbolic control button representing the transfer of BTC operatorship and unified operatorship of BTC and SCP systems to SOCAR.
https://report.az/en/energy/btc-operatorship-transferred-to-socar