WWF-UK: BP stopped in its tracks
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BP stopped in its tracks
Tuesday 27 July 2004
BP's pipeline construction was halted in the highly contentious Borjomi section this week by the Georgian Ministry of Environment, after WWF alerts of BP operating without government permits and failing to adhere to best practice.
James Leaton, Extractives Policy Officer at WWF-UK, commented, BP consider themselves above the law on this project and again demonstrate little respect for the local environment or the Borjomi region.
WWF staff have visited sites in the Kodiana mountains above Borjomi and witnessed the unapproved construction. They raised the issue with the Ministry of Environment and provided film footage of the area.
WWF commends the way the Georgian government has enforced the requirements of the contracts signed with BP. The new administration has also stated that if it faced the route selection process again it would not select the Borjomi route. WWF has always maintained that the route selection process through this section was flawed.
Ms. Tamar Lebanidze, Georgia's Environmental Minister, in an interview with local newspaper 24 Hours admits he would have chosen a different route for the pipeline within the region and points to certain issues where BP has not lived up to contractual commitments. One requirement was for BP to investigate alternative routes, but this has not been fulfilled.
BP needs to complete construction in Georgia this summer to meet its completion deadline next year. The company appears willing to railroad construction through this section in order to meet its timetable, to the detriment of Georgia's environmentally sensitive areas.
James Leaton stated BP have focused solely on creating a public relations bubble around this project; unfortunately it has burst. In June, BP were so busy opening their new glossy information centre in Borjomi they forgot to actually gain the necessary permits to build in the area.
WWF will be submitting evidence of this contractual breach to the UK Select Committee on Trade and Industry, which is already conducting an inquiry into the UK's involvement in the pipeline through the Export Credits Guarantee Department.
WWF staff have visited sites in the Kodiana mountains above Borjomi and witnessed the unapproved construction. They raised the issue with the Ministry of Environment and provided film footage of the area.
WWF commends the way the Georgian government has enforced the requirements of the contracts signed with BP. The new administration has also stated that if it faced the route selection process again it would not select the Borjomi route. WWF has always maintained that the route selection process through this section was flawed.
Ms. Tamar Lebanidze, Georgia's Environmental Minister, in an interview with local newspaper 24 Hours admits he would have chosen a different route for the pipeline within the region and points to certain issues where BP has not lived up to contractual commitments. One requirement was for BP to investigate alternative routes, but this has not been fulfilled.
BP needs to complete construction in Georgia this summer to meet its completion deadline next year. The company appears willing to railroad construction through this section in order to meet its timetable, to the detriment of Georgia's environmentally sensitive areas.
James Leaton stated BP have focused solely on creating a public relations bubble around this project; unfortunately it has burst. In June, BP were so busy opening their new glossy information centre in Borjomi they forgot to actually gain the necessary permits to build in the area.
WWF will be submitting evidence of this contractual breach to the UK Select Committee on Trade and Industry, which is already conducting an inquiry into the UK's involvement in the pipeline through the Export Credits Guarantee Department.
Further information
To find out more about our work in this area visit the oil, gas and mining section of our Research Centre.
Download the newspaper artical BP's pipeline to nowhere as a PDF file.
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