Georgia Gives Go-Ahead to BTC

(Tbilisi, Civil Georgia, December 2, 2002) – Georgian Minister of Environment Nino Chkhobadze agrees to give a go-ahead to the construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline though Borjomi valley after the talks with President Shevardnadze, held early this morning.

“Investors provide Georgia with unprecedented measures of ecological security, thus all the restrictions on construction of the pipeline are lifted,” Georgian President said at the news briefing on December 2.

“President takes a final decisions and I take responsibility for this decision [construction of pipeline via Borjomi],” Eduard Shevardnadze said on December 2. 

Environmental groups fear that the pipeline might damage Borjomi valley’s ecology. Borjomi is famous with its mineral waters.

“This decision is a great mistake of the Georgian authorities,” Mamuka Khazaradze, President of the Georgian Glass and Mineral Waters Company told the Rustavi 2 TV channel. The company is the main producer of the Borjomi mineral waters and categorically opposes construction of the pipeline via the valley