BTC (Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan) is a pipeline that was constructed especially for Azerbaijani oil, i.e. the pipeline was built taking into account the present potential on the increase in the oil production. It was designed for 50 mln. tons per year, or 1 mln. barrel of oil. We can reach the volume at 1 mln. barrels a day only in 2008, i. e. the oil pipeline will be practically completely filed with oil by that time. The pipeline is principally not considered for any other oil, except Azerbaijani one, Natig Aliyev, Azerbaijan Industry and Energy Minister, told Trend Special Correspondent.
It is quite another matter if someone wants to join it, i. e. take an advantage of the pipeline and carry its oil to the Mediterranean Turkish Port of Ceyhan for further resale. Then the interested parties should sign corresponding agreements with BTC Company, the potential consignor of oil consignment, as well as with the potential owner of the oil, who want to carry it. In addition, they should sign agreements on obligations of the consigner, as well as his legal guarantees, the Minister said.
Any other big consigners interested in it may join the pipeline, but only in accordance with the following condition: first of al it will be necessary to extend BTC. Theoretically it is possible today to increase BTC from 1 mln. barrels a day up to 1,8 mln. barrels. But that will require additional capital investments. In order to make these capital investments, either BTC itself, or BTC jointly with its new potential partner should strike an agreement to implement it. And that will need mutual commitments. Without the above-mentioned, this issue remains not serious, he said.