Kazakh oil delivery through BTC increases

About 285,100 tons of the Kazakh oil was transported through BTC in 2008 (October-December).

American ChevronTexaco began transport of Tengiz oil via the BTC in 2008. The Kazakh oil will be shipped via the BTC and railway until Kulevi and Batumi ports of Georgia. Tengiz is operated by ChevronTexaco.

The total length of BTC is 1.768 kilometers including the 443 kilometer section running via Azerbaijan, the 249 kilometer section via Georgia and the 1.076 kilometer via Turkey. Construction of the pipeline began in April 2003. It was filled with oil on May 18, 2005.

BTC shareholders include BP (30.1%); AzBTC (25%); Chevron (8.90%); Statoil Hydro (8.71%); TPAO (6.53%); Eni (5%); Total (5%); Itochu (3.40%); Inpex (2.50%); ConocoPhillips (2.50%) and Amerada Hess (2.36%).

Kulevi terminal on the shore of the Black Sea is owned by the SOCAR and Batumi oil port is owned by KazMunayGaz.

/Trend Capital/