BP Azerbaijan informed Trend that the current export rate via the pipeline is running ahead of expectations and the pipeline is expected to achieve one million barrels per day (approximately 50 million tonnes per year) in late 2008.
Current activity is focused on the final commissioning of pump stations to run on gas. This will enable the design capacity of one million barrels of oil per day to be reached during the second quarter of this year. At its peak the Ceyhan terminal will fill 1-2 tankers per day.
While the BTC pipeline initially carried only ACG oil, the first delivery of Shah Deniz condensate into the line was made in January this year. It is expected that future volumes will include those from across the Caspian, possibly commencing by the end of 2007.