bp offers BTC ecology program

bp executives said in the Caspian Oil & Gas show in Baku Thursday they had forwarded to the government a week before “Environmental and social impact assessments (ESIA) of the construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan main export pipeline and South Caucasus Pipeline”.

The documents describe the existing ecological and social conditions along the pipeline and measures to be taken to minimize unfavorable impacts on the environment and the population, BTC director on regional issues Barry Helton said.

According to BTC ESIA manager Ann Hesling, several options were under consideration, with the safest route chosen. Nevertheless, this option will traverse the Gobustan Preserve, but at a distance of 14 kilometers off archeologically important places of interest.

The project was compiled using bp and WB standards, Mr. Helton said. If construction activities are needed in private plots, farmers will get refunds in accordance with bp’s OD-430 WB standard.

The construction of the pipeline will open 1500 jobs in Azerbaijan and 1000 in Georgia.

The ESIAs are available in public libraries, scientific and research institutes and non governmental organizations.*