BP turns pipeline back on
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14/08/2008
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Financial Times (London)
BP resumed exports of Azerbaijani natural gas through a pipeline across Georgia to Turkey yesterday. But the company's oil pipeline to the Georgian Black Sea port of Supsa remained out of action.
Both pipelines were closed by the British energy group on Tuesday amid concerns about security.
"BP began filling the South Caucasus pipeline again today because we believe it is now safe enough to do so," said Toby Odone, a BP spokesman.
Supply disruptions to Georgia and Turkey had been minimal because of gas stored in the line, he said. But the 150,000 barrels-a-day oil pipeline from Baku to Supsa is still closed because of doubts about safety at Georgia's Black Sea ports.
Eka Sharashidze, Georgia's economy minister, told Bloomberg that two Russian missiles had hit the pipeline south-east of Tbilisi. Russia denied bombing the pipeline.
Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2008