BTC Construction Resumes in Western Georgia

The Georgian Ministry of the Environment authorized the British Petroleum (BP) company, which heads the construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil export pipeline, to resume construction works in the Borjomi valley, in western Georgia.

?We have submitted new conditions to the British Petroleum company, under which the pipes will be laid deeper and additional safety measures will be developed,? Spokesperson for the Ministry of the Environment Tiko Pirveli told Civil Georgia on August 5.

Moreover, a group of independent experts will arrive in Georgia on August 6 to develop mechanisms for ensuring the safety of the pipeline.

Before August 14 British Petroleum, along with foreign experts, should submit an integrated plan of pipeline safety which will be further considered and approved by the National Security Council of Georgia.

On July 22 the British Petroleum (BP) company suspended construction works in the Borjomi valley in western Georgia for two weeks as requested by the Ministry of the Environment of Georgia.

The Georgian Ministry was seeking the observation of stricter environmental safety measures in the Borjomi district.