BP transfer SCPC technical operatorship to SOCAR
By Ayya Lmahamad
The process of transition of the technical operatorship of the South Caucasus Pipeline Company (SCPC) from BP Exploration Limited to SOCAR Midstream Operations Limited has been finalized, the company’s press service reported on August 2.
The transfer of technical operatorship was carried out in fulfillment of the revised SCPC Pipeline Owners’ Agreement signed in December 2013. The agreement entitles SOCAR to undertake the technical operatorship of SCPC on the first anniversary of the SCPX construction completion date.
“The SCPX construction was completed in March 2019. A year later, in March 2020 SOCAR Midstream Operations Limited officially became the Technical Operator of SCPC with the agreed transition period. The transition process which started in March 2020 has been successfully completed in July 2021,” the company’s statement reads.
It should be noted that SCP is one of the four segments of the Southern Gas Corridor, designed to export natural gas from Azerbaijan via Georgia to Turkey and Europe.
SOCAR’s President Rovnag Abdullayev stated that SOCAR’s taking over the technical operatorship of SCPC is yet another tremendous achievement for the company to operate the international gas pipeline.
“SCP is one of the key sections of the Southern Gas Corridor aimed at boosting Azerbaijan’s gas exports, supporting energy security, supply diversification and decarbonization goals in Turkey and Europe,” he noted.
“SOCAR brings a wealth of experience as a commercial operator of SCPC, and we believe they will continue with the same high level of efficiency and expertise now as a technical operator. As the biggest shareholder in Shah Deniz and SCPC, we remain committed to working closely with SOCAR in support of their new responsibility and we wish them a tremendous success,” BP’s regional president for Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey Gary Jones said.
The South Caucasus Pipeline was built to export the Shah Deniz gas from Azerbaijan to Georgia and Turkey. The pipeline starts from the Sangachal terminal near Baku. It follows the route of the BTC crude oil pipeline through Azerbaijan and Georgia to Turkey, where it is linked to the Turkish gas distribution system. South Caucasus Pipeline Company has been responsible for the construction and operation of the whole company. The length of SCP is 692 km with a design capacity of 7.4 bcma. The project was launched in 2013 and after commissioning in June 2018, it began to transport gas to Turkey and in December 2020 to Europe.
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Ayya Lmahamad is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @AyyaLmahamad
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