Historical background to the document "Speech by Heydar Aliyev, President of Azerbaijan Republic at the solemn ceremony on the occasion of laying down of the main export pipeline Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan at Sangachal seashore terminal (September 18, 2002)"


Construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan main export oil pipeline became possible only thanks to Heydar Aliyev`s political determination. The main export pipeline delivers the Azerbaijani oil to the world markets via the Mediterranean Ceyhan Terminal of Turkey.

The foundation laying ceremony was held on September 18, 2002 and attended by Heydar Aliyev, President of Turkey Ahmet Necdet Sezer, and President of Georgia Eduard Shevardnadze. The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan main export oil pipeline was put into operation in 2006. Its total length is 1,768 km (443 km in Azerbaijan, 250 km in Georgia, 1,075 km in Turkey), annual capacity 50 million tons. Currently, it is called Heydar Aliyev Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan main export pipeline named after Heydar Aliyev.

“90 Instants of the Great leader”, Heydar Aliyev Heritage research center, “Sharq-Qarb”, Baku-2013, p.222