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Baku–Supsa Pipeline
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Baku–Supsa Pipeline
The Baku–Supsa Pipeline (also known as the Western Route Export Pipeline and Western Early Oil Pipeline) is an 833-kilometre (518 mi) long crude-oil export pipeline running from the Sangachal Terminal near Baku to the Supsa terminal in Georgia. It transports oil produced from the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli field. The pipeline and the Supsa terminal have been operated by SOCAR Midstream Operations since 8 June 2026, when operational responsibility was transferred from BP following the expiration of BP's operating agreement.
Preparations for the pipeline's construction started in 1994. On 8 March 1996, President of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev and President of Georgia Eduard Shevardnadze agreed on the establishment of the Baku–Supsa pipeline. A trilateral contract was signed between Azerbaijan International Operating Company, SOCAR and the Government of Georgia. In 1996, the main project contract was awarded to Kværner. The pipeline was completed in 1998. On 17 April 1999, the inauguration ceremony of the Supsa Oil Terminal took place. The total cost of constructing the pipeline and terminal was US$556 million.
Oil transportation through the pipeline was stopped on 21 October 2006 after abnormalities were revealed during an inspection of the pipeline. The large-scale repair and replacement work included the replacement and rerouting of pipeline sections near Zestaponi in Georgia and at the Kura River crossing in Azerbaijan. Several defects in sections dating from the Soviet times were also repaired. In total, the repair works cost US$53 million. Oil shipments restarted in June 2008.
After a major explosion and fire closed the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan pipeline on 6 August 2008, the Baku–Supsa Pipeline was used to reroute Azerbaijani oil deliveries. On 12 August 2008, BP temporarily closed the pipeline for safety reasons because of the South Ossetia conflict. Russian aircraft reportedly bombed the pipeline on August 10 and 12 2008. In the summer of 2012, the pipeline was shut down for a month for maintenance.
In July 2015, Russian troops involved in demarcating the de facto border of South Ossetia moved the boundary line forward near the village of Orchosani, taking control of a short length of the pipeline. Analysts suggested that this was a Russian reaction intended to discourage Georgia from making further moves towards joining NATO. While conceding that the pipeline might need to be diverted in the future, a SOCAR vice president reportedly denied any short-term need for such concern.
In June 2022, regular oil transportation through the pipeline was suspended amid increased security and shipping risks in the Black Sea following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The pipeline was not permanently mothballed, however, and limited shipments were subsequently resumed. In 2023, approximately 150,000 tonnes of oil were transported through the pipeline, while reported estimates for 2024 vary by source. BP rerouted oil from the pipeline to the much larger Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan pipeline due to security concerns.
In 2024, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan also discussed the possibility of transporting up to 5 million tonnes of Kazakh oil annually through the Baku–Supsa pipeline as part of efforts to diversify Kazakhstan's oil-export routes. The proposal had not, however, resulted in such volumes being transported through the pipeline.
In May 2026, the Georgian Oil and Gas Corporation and SOCAR reached a new operating agreement concerning the Georgian section of the pipeline, with the agreement intended to support the restoration of operations. On 8 June 2026, SOCAR Midstream Operations took over operational responsibility for the Baku–Supsa pipeline and the Supsa terminal from BP following the expiration of BP's operating agreement.
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Baku–Supsa Pipeline
The Baku–Supsa Pipeline (also known as the Western Route Export Pipeline and Western Early Oil Pipeline) is an 833-kilometre (518 mi) long crude-oil export pipeline running from the Sangachal Terminal near Baku to the Supsa terminal in Georgia. It transports oil produced from the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli field. The pipeline and the Supsa terminal have been operated by SOCAR Midstream Operations since 8 June 2026, when operational responsibility was transferred from BP following the expiration of BP's operating agreement.
Preparations for the pipeline's construction started in 1994. On 8 March 1996, President of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev and President of Georgia Eduard Shevardnadze agreed on the establishment of the Baku–Supsa pipeline. A trilateral contract was signed between Azerbaijan International Operating Company, SOCAR and the Government of Georgia. In 1996, the main project contract was awarded to Kværner. The pipeline was completed in 1998. On 17 April 1999, the inauguration ceremony of the Supsa Oil Terminal took place. The total cost of constructing the pipeline and terminal was US$556 million.
Oil transportation through the pipeline was stopped on 21 October 2006 after abnormalities were revealed during an inspection of the pipeline. The large-scale repair and replacement work included the replacement and rerouting of pipeline sections near Zestaponi in Georgia and at the Kura River crossing in Azerbaijan. Several defects in sections dating from the Soviet times were also repaired. In total, the repair works cost US$53 million. Oil shipments restarted in June 2008.
After a major explosion and fire closed the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan pipeline on 6 August 2008, the Baku–Supsa Pipeline was used to reroute Azerbaijani oil deliveries. On 12 August 2008, BP temporarily closed the pipeline for safety reasons because of the South Ossetia conflict. Russian aircraft reportedly bombed the pipeline on August 10 and 12 2008. In the summer of 2012, the pipeline was shut down for a month for maintenance.
In July 2015, Russian troops involved in demarcating the de facto border of South Ossetia moved the boundary line forward near the village of Orchosani, taking control of a short length of the pipeline. Analysts suggested that this was a Russian reaction intended to discourage Georgia from making further moves towards joining NATO. While conceding that the pipeline might need to be diverted in the future, a SOCAR vice president reportedly denied any short-term need for such concern.
In June 2022, regular oil transportation through the pipeline was suspended amid increased security and shipping risks in the Black Sea following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The pipeline was not permanently mothballed, however, and limited shipments were subsequently resumed. In 2023, approximately 150,000 tonnes of oil were transported through the pipeline, while reported estimates for 2024 vary by source. BP rerouted oil from the pipeline to the much larger Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan pipeline due to security concerns.
In 2024, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan also discussed the possibility of transporting up to 5 million tonnes of Kazakh oil annually through the Baku–Supsa pipeline as part of efforts to diversify Kazakhstan's oil-export routes. The proposal had not, however, resulted in such volumes being transported through the pipeline.
In May 2026, the Georgian Oil and Gas Corporation and SOCAR reached a new operating agreement concerning the Georgian section of the pipeline, with the agreement intended to support the restoration of operations. On 8 June 2026, SOCAR Midstream Operations took over operational responsibility for the Baku–Supsa pipeline and the Supsa terminal from BP following the expiration of BP's operating agreement.
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