SOCAR assumes operatorship of strategic Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline from BP

Azerbaijan’s state energy company, SOCAR, has officially taken over as the operator of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil export pipeline, succeeding Beyond Petoleum (bp).

The handover of operational authority encompasses all three sections of the critical transit corridor, spanning Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey.

In addition to day-to-day pipeline activities, SOCAR has assumed comprehensive management of all broader operations relating to both the BTC and the South Caucasus Pipeline (SCP) systems.

Rovshan Najaf, President of SOCAR, hailed the transition as a powerful testament to Azerbaijan’s long-term geopolitical and energy goals.

“Over the last two decades, the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline has made an invaluable contribution to Azerbaijan’s sustainable development, the strengthening of regional cooperation, and the enhancement of global energy security.

The transfer of BTC operatorship to SOCAR, combined with the general management of the BTC and South Caucasus Pipeline (SCP) systems, represents a major milestone. It reflects our company’s growing expertise in managing world-class energy infrastructure. SOCAR remains fully committed to ensuring the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of this strategic energy corridor, further solidifying its contribution to both regional and global energy security,” Najaf stated.