Trends exclusive interview with Mr. Rashid Javanshir, BTC Co. Executive Director
Question: What perspective plans are currently there on the operations of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline? How much oil is planned to be transported through this route and what time is expected to be the peak of export transportation?
Answer: We are intending to increase the throughput capacity of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline in line with the realization of oil volumes to be transported across the Caspian Sea.
Depending on the productivity of Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli it is planned to transport 1 million barrel of oil per day starting from the years 2008-2009 and it is expected that the maximum level of transportation will continue up to 2012-2013.
Question: The transportation of oil from the Tengiz oil-field of Kazakhstan through BTC is anticipated to commence in 2007. Are the oil volumes from Tengiz to be transported through BTC identified?
Answer: The final agreement on the transportation of Tengiz oil via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline has not been obtained and the volumes of oil to be transported depend on the progress of the ongoing negotiations.
Question: From what time is the Azerbaijan side planning to start paying off the loans to the international financial institutions?
Answer: On behalf of all its stockholders including AzBTC, the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline Company shall repay the credits to the international financial institutions during the coming decade.
Question: How do you see the prospects of the Baku-Supsa and the Baku Novorossiysk oil export pipelines?
Answer: The issue of using other alternative exportation options, apart from the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, is under consideration.
Question: Are negotiations being conducted in connection with Israels joining the BTC project as it recently demonstrated a deep interest to this project?
Answer: Israel has not made any appeal directly to the BTC pipeline company.
Question: At what stage is the preparation of the transit agreement on the transportation of Kasakhstan oil?
Answer: The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline company is not a direct participant of the transit agreement on the transportation of Kasakhstan oil. The mentioned issue is directly related to Azerbaijan, Kasakhstan and the oil producers operating in Kasakhstan.