Baku, Fineko/abc.az. Tendency of increase of transportation of Kazakh oil via Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) after growth in August after tendency of fall in March to July, which followed record indicator of February suppressed again in September. Transportation was started in October, 2008.

The Azerbaijani State Statistics Committee (SSC) informs that in January to September, 2009, transportation of Kazakh oil via BTC pipeline named after Heydar Aliyev totaled 1.3 million tons. In September, 100,000 tons were transported versus 200,000 tons in August, 92,300 tons in July, 152,900 in June, 163,000 tons in May, 137,700 tons in April, 152,800 tons in March, 240,200 tons in February and 161,100 tons in January of the year.

Taking into account Oct-Dec 2008 transportation (285,100 tons), Kazakh oil transit via BTC pipeline has already reached 1.585 million tons.

Simultaneously Kazakh oil transportation in October 2008 reached 17,400 tons, in November 119,300 tons, and December 2008 148,400 tons.

In January to September, 2009, BTC exported 20.8% of all the cargo transportation in Azerbaijan (137.7 million tons). In January to September, 28.7 million tons of oil were transported via the pipeline. In September, 3.2 million tons were pumped against 3.4 million in August, 3.5 million tons in July, by 3.4 million tons in June and May, 3.1 million tons in April, 3.3 million tons in March, and by 2.7 million tons in January and February of the year.

Summarizing the results of 2008 BTC transportation made 17.9% of all cargo carriages in Azerbaijan (183 million tons).  Last year it was carried 32.8 million tons of oil (+15.3% against the 2007 index) via the pipeline.

On 14 November, 2008, the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) and Kazakh national company KazMunayGaz signed an agreement on key principles of implementation of Trans-Caspian Project.

The agreement defines main conditions and principles of joint realization of the project, creation of join Project Company by SOCAR and KazMunayGas, issues of financing, tariff forming, and conditions of access to created capacity and gradual development of Trans-Caspian oil export system. The agreement is the first practical move envisaging creation of concrete system with definition of conditions of supplies, tariffs and other matters.

The agreement envisaged foundation of a joint venture (JV) to undertake the project feasibility study, construction and operation. JV was already established. Original cost of the project is around $3 bn. The project will consist of some components – creation of infrastructure in Kazakhstan, Trans-Caspian segment to be financed jointly with Azerbaijan, and creation of infrastructure in Azerbaijan. For financing the Kazakh consignors will provide guaranteed volumes of oil under which borrowed funds will be raised.

Successful realization of Trans-Caspian Project will allow creation of reliable system of long-term tanker transportation through oil terminals in Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan and its following export with use of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline and other oil transport infrastructure.

At primary stage this system will ensure a possibility of transportation of 500,000 barrels of oil per day (23 million tons a year) with following increase up to 750,000-1.2 million barrels (35-56 million a year).

21.10.2009 14:03