The oil pipeline Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) is of great importance to Turkey`s energy strategy. Owing to BTC, Turkey is playing a role of energy bridge on a global scale, Djan Subkhi, BP Turkey Production Director, informed Trend reports.
He pointed out that the pipeline has also increased Ankara`s influence within the region itself. Turkey`s rapidly developing economy needs a permanent increase of energy supply demand and the statistics are in evidence.
In 2005, the Turkish economy required 93 mln. tons of oil and oil products. According to the forecasts and calculations, this will exceed 220 mln. tons by 2020, pointed out Mr. Subkhi. He also stressed that Turkey should reap maximum benefit from its strategic position.
Situated between the energy-rich States and the developed Western countries, Turkey should play its role as an energy bridge of a global nature he said. He added that success in the energy security policy of oil pipelines, particularly the BTC pipeline which passes through more than 300 Turkey settlements, is of great significance.
At the same time, the representative of the Company pointed out that 42 tankers filled with Azerbaijani oil (29.665 mln. barrels of oil) have already sailed from the Heydar Aliyev Terminal in the Turkish Port of Ceyhan.
The terminal, with a capacity of 7 mln. barrels of oil, is capable to ship 120,000 barrels of oil per hour. And that is equal to the displacement of 2 tankers, said Mr. Subhi. He also added that the main consumers of the Azerbaijani oil are US, Brazil, France, Israel, Spain and that more than a half of the oil shipped is sent to Italy.