ISTANBUL (A.A) - 08.07.2002 - An important stage has been completed within the framework of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Crude Oil Pipeline Project (BTC HPBH) which will transport Caspian oils to world markets.
The draft report of environmental effect assessment (CED), carried out by BTC owners and Botas, was presented to public opinion to be examined.
The CED report includes measures which aim at overcoming or reducing the probable negative effects of existing environmental and social conditions, construction and effects of the project on environment and society.
State-run oil pipeline company (BOTAS) Excutive Board Chairman and Director General Gokhan Bildaci said Turkey section of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Crude Oil Pipeline project came to the stage of construction.
Pointing out that the project proved that BOTAS was a professional energy company working in line with international standards, Bildaci said the CED report, which was prepared within the scope of BTC HPBH Turkey section, constituted a very important model for all big energy projects that would be carried out in Turkey.
Bildaci mentioned the economic advantages which the project would provide to Turkey, and said, ''besides the indirect benefits that would be obtained from the project, Turkey is expected to obtain 200 million U.S. dollars annully between the first and the 16th year, and around 300 million U.S. dollars annually in the 17th and 40th years.''
Bildaci said the project will also make a contribution to economy in creating new and additional employment facilities for Turkish private sector like equipment and workmanship.
Bildaci said efforts were exerted to make people, living around the pipeline route and around related installations, to benefit from these facilities the most.
Gokhan Bildacý said that the project is a project of prestige in addition to its economic benefits.
Bildacý said that Turkey will strengethen its geopolitical power with this project, adding that the project will also decrease the risks of accidents in the Turkish straits.
Bildacý said that the engineering and design studies of the project have been completed in a considerable extent, adding that all the nationalization files have been concluded and the tender assessment commission will complete its studies soon.
The agreements which have been initialled to date will be signed and become official, he said adding that the construction will start in next spring.
''In the meanwhile the contractors will complete their preparations and after the approval of the environmental effect assessment report by the Ministry of Environment, the construction sites will be set up,'' he said.
Bildacý noted that the pipeline is expected to operate in the first quarter of 2005, adding that the construction activities will be completed in 2004 and the oil will be loaded to tankers from pipelines in the beginning of 2005.
Bildacý said that they launched great efforts to protect the environment both during the construction of the pipeline and during the management of the pipeline which will last for 40 years.