BTC Pipeline (Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan)

Overview

Azerbaijan (Sangachal) through Georgia to Turkey (Ceyhan). ~1,768 km. Capacity ~1.2 million bpd. Commissioned 2006. Strategically designed to bypass both Russia and Iran. Backed by BP and a major US/EU energy security priority.

Geopolitical context

One of the most deliberately geopolitical pipelines ever built. The route through Georgia was chosen specifically to avoid Russian and Iranian territory, despite being more expensive and technically difficult. US diplomatic cables (released by WikiLeaks) showed extensive State Department involvement in route selection. The pipeline anchors Georgia's Western orientation and was a target during the 2008 Russia-Georgia war (a section in Turkey was attacked, though attribution is disputed). BP's operatorship makes it a joint UK-Azerbaijani-Turkish strategic asset. The pipeline established the template for the Southern Gas Corridor that followed the same route.

Nearby

• Iran–Turkey Gas Pipeline (Tabriz–Ankara) Gas pipeline · ~203 km
• Kirkuk–Ceyhan Pipeline Oil pipeline · ~426 km
• Tuapse refinery and oil terminal Refinery · ~467 km
• CPC Pipeline (Caspian Pipeline Consortium) Oil pipeline · ~494 km
• Novorossiysk Port / transit hub · ~571 km
• Kirkuk Oil Field Production site · ~594 km