Georgia Wants Alternative Routes of BTC

(Tbilisi, November 30, 2002, Civil Georgia) – “The Ministry of Environment agrees on construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) via Georgia, but the decision concerning the construction of the BTC via Borjomi valley is still subject of negotiations,” Nino Chkhobadze, Georgian Minister of Environment told the reporters today.

On November 30 she held talks with the representatives of the Georgian International Oil Corporation and British Petroleum on ecological safety issues of the pipeline, which is to carry Caspian oil to the western markets via Georgia and Turkey.

“At first the investors should propose the alternative routes that would not run via Borjomi valley. After this Georgian Ministry of Environment will discuss the proposed alternative routes and only after discussion of the proposal the route might be approved,” Nino Chkhobadze said.

The Ministry of Environment and many environmental groups fear that the pipeline, which is to run through Borjomi valley in southern Georgia, will damage ecology and famous mineral water springs of the valley.