BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 2. Operatorship of the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline represents an important
milestone for Azerbaijan’s energy sector.


This was announced by the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan
(SOCAR), citing SOCAR President Rovshan Najaf's remarks duringa
ceremony held at the Sangachal Terminal to mark the 20th
anniversary of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil export pipeline,
as well as the transfer of BTC operatorship and the common
operatorship of the BTC and South Caucasus Pipeline (SCP) systems
to SOCAR.


According to SOCAR, in his speech, Najaf described the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline as one of the most significant
achievements of Azerbaijan’s modern energy strategy, founded by
National Leader Heydar Aliyev. He noted that BTC had established a
strategic energy corridor linking the Caspian region to the
Mediterranean via the Black Sea basin and fundamentally transformed
the model for bringing Caspian energy resources to international
markets.


Highlighting that the transfer of BTC operatorship, as well as
the common operatorship of the BTC and SCP systems, to SOCAR
represents another important milestone in the development of
Azerbaijan’s energy sector, Najaf emphasized that this significant
achievement demonstrates the extensive operational experience and
professional capabilities built by SOCAR over more than 30
years.


Addressing the event, Gio Cristofoli, bp’s Regional President
for Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Türkiye, spoke about BTC’s
achievements over the past 20 years, the project’s international
significance, and bp’s long-standing role as operator. He expressed
confidence that SOCAR would successfully maintain the existing high
standards of safety, reliability, and operational excellence in
pipeline operations and emphasized that close and long-term
cooperation with SOCAR and the other partners would be further
strengthened.







Deputy Minister of Economy Anar Akhundov stated that over the
past 20 years, the BTC pipeline has made a significant contribution
not only to the development of Azerbaijan’s energy sector but also
to the country’s sustainable economic growth and the strengthening
of regional cooperation. Acknowledging bp’s successful performance
as operator of the pipeline over the past two decades, he
emphasized that the transfer of operatorship to SOCAR is a logical
outcome of the professional expertise and operational capabilities
developed through many years of international partnership.


Deputy Minister of Energy Kamal Abbasov noted that BTC holds
special significance as a symbol of regional cooperation and
reliable international partnership. He stressed that the project’s
value is measured not only by the volumes of oil transported over
the past two decades, but also by the trust, cooperation, and
long-term partnerships it has fostered among countries, companies,
and people across the region.


Elkhan Sultanov, bp’s Pipeline Operations Manager and a veteran
oil professional, stated that he had been involved in the BTC
project since its early stages and expressed his satisfaction at
continuing to contribute to its successful operation during this
new phase of operatorship under SOCAR. He emphasized that ensuring
the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of the pipeline remains
the highest priority.


At the end of the ceremony, Najaf and Cristofoli pressed the
symbolic control button signifying the transfer of BTC operatorship
and the common operatorship of the BTC and SCP systems to
SOCAR.