Caucasus and Central Asia in the Globalization Process
356
The increased economic growth rate in Azerbaijan
is resulting from increased oil production and
development of the oil refining sector. The future
economic development of the entire South
Caucasus, particularly for Azerbaijan, depends on
setting up the big transportation arteries between
this region and the West via Turkey and social
development investments in non-oil sectors in
Azerbaijan.
The Significance of BTC for Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan will be important oil producer in
Caucasus region and for all over the world.
BTC Pipeline will foster countries indepen-
dence in South Caucasus Region and will bring
more economic and political stability in their
countries, which will cause economic develop-
ment, and will help the eliminating of ethnic
tension by improving social welfare investments
for all countries in the region.
According to Energy Information Administra-
tion, (Official Energy Statistics from the US
Government), BTC (Baku-T’bilisi Ceyhan) pipe-
line, will allow Azerbaijan to become an impor-
tant energy exporter over the next decade
9
BTC, SCP, and Rail way Projects will increase
the regional development in Azerbaijan. Because,
transportation plays an important role in the
complex development Ganja-Gazakh economic
region in Azerbaijan. Region is located on the
railroad and high road lines connecting Azerbaijan
with Georgia and the sea cost of the Black Sea.
Ganja, Gazakh and Aghstafa are the main transport
networks. The pipelines constructed to transport the
oil and gas extracted from the Caspian Sea to the
international market, passes through the territory of
the economic region.
The Significance of BTC, SCP Projects for
Georgia
BTC Pipeline will foster the positive socio-
economic developments in Georgia. BTC and
SCP have been the largest foreign investments in
the country in the last decade making a significant
contribution to national economic well-being.
Capital and operating expenditures from project
inception to 2005 in Georgia on BTC is $775
million and $447 million on SCP.
10
These amount
investments can be better understood by compa-
rison with.... GNP of Georgia, in 2005. Georgia
will get The WREP tariff paid to the national go-
vernment by operator and partner companies.
WREP revenues and capital investments and ope-
rating expenditures are shown in the table below.
9
http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/Azerbaijan/Background.html
10
BP Sustainibility Report 2005, pp 9
Capital and operating expenditure in Georgia ($)
Capital 2004
Capital 2005 Operating 2004 Operating 2005
WREP 2,342,000
4,752,000 20,581,000 23,711,000
BTC 262,936,000 225,812,000 0 0
SCP 160,861,000 205,736,000 0 0
Total 426,139,000 436,300,000 20,581,000 23,711,000
Georgia itself has rights to take 5% of the
annual gas flow through the SCP in lieu of tariff
and can purchase a further 0.5 billion (500
million)cubic metres of gas a year at a discounted
price.
11
it is envisaged that the pipeline will export
up to 16 billion cubic metres a year. it means that
Georgia will get 800 million cubic metres a year
which will enable to meet Georgias natural gas
needs or receive direct payment from operator
and its partners in exchange for 800 million cubic
metres natural gas.
BTC project is seen as a means to undercut
Russia’s influence in the Caucasus, especially for
Georgia, which are going to benefit from more
peace and stability which will cause to accelerate
economic development and growth.
Common Benefits for three countries
BTC is helping the strengthening of economic
and political relationship between Azerbaijan,
Georgia, and Turkey.
The relatively poor performance of many
landlocked countries can be attributed to distance
from coast. They have the several aspects of
dependence on transit neighbours. Four such types
of dependence are discussed: dependence on
neighbours’ infrastructure; dependence on sound
cross-border political relations; dependence on
neighbours’ peace and stability; and dependence on
neighbours’ administrative practices.
12
From this
theoretical approach These three countries will
share in the benefits of three projects resulting from
BTC, SCP and other prıojects’ contribution to
economic development, the consolidation of
political relations, stability and peace in this region.
This project is making Azerbaijan one of the
most important oil producer countries all over the
world, and making Georgia Significant oil transit
state. This project also will provide contribution to
the political and economic stability in the Region
By creating the first direct pipeline link
between the landlocked Caspian Sea and the
Mediterranean, the BTC project will bring positive
11
http://www.bp.com/genericarticle.do?categoryId=
9006670&contentId=7014371
12
The Challenges Facing Landlocked Developing Countries,
Journal of Human Development Vol. 5, No. 1, March
2004, Michael L. Faye, John W. McArthur, Jeffrey D.
Sachs and Thomas Snow, pp 1.
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