Azerbaijan's State Oil Company takes over operation of Baku-Supsa oil pipeline, Supsa terminal in Georgia

BAKU. June 9 (Interfax) - SOCAR Midstream Operations LLC (a subsidiary of the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijani Republic, SOCAR) has taken over operation of the Baku-Supsa oil pipeline and the Supsa oil terminal, the company said in a statement.

"Today in Georgia, SOCAR marked an important milestone. From June 8, 2026, the Baku-Supsa western export pipeline and its integral part, the Supsa terminal, have been transferred to the operation of SOCAR Midstream Operations. The agreement with BP plc for the operation of these facilities has expired, and in accordance with the agreement reached between the Georgian Oil and Gas Corporation and SOCAR, SOCAR Midstream Operations has taken over operational responsibility," the company said.

The length of the Baku-Supsa oil pipeline (the terminal is on the Black Sea coast of Georgia) is 837 km. It has a diameter of 530 mm. The pipeline, with a capacity of 7.5 million tonnes of oil per year, was built under the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli field development contract. BP has been the pipeline operator since its launch. The first oil was pumped into the pipeline on December 10, 1998, and on March 11, 1999, it reached its destination. The first tanker loaded with oil was dispatched from Supsa at the end of March that same year.

Currently, only individual batches of oil are being transported through the pipeline. According to the annual report of the Azerbaijani Energy Ministry, 90,000 tonnes of oil were pumped through it in 2024. In addition, BP used this pipeline to export oil several months ago.

The Supsa terminal, located on the Black Sea coast in Georgia's Lanchkhuti district, allows for the storage of oil transported via the Baku-Supsa pipeline before it is loaded onto oil tankers. The oil is then delivered by tankers through the Bosphorus Strait to world markets. The terminal is an important element of Georgia's economy. It consists of four oil storage tanks, each with a capacity of approximately 40,000 tonnes.

SOCAR Midstream Operations was created in early 2015 to manage the strategic equity stake and represent Azerbaijan's interests in onshore export oil and gas transportation pipelines and facilities.