BTC pipeline - what the Georgian Government did...
...in July 2004:
Georgian Government halts construction in Borjomi
The Georgian administration has ordered BP to stop construction in the highly sensitive section surrounding Borjomi.BP has failed to meet the requirements of its environmental permit relating to addressing security issues and landslide risks.
WWF Georgia has been monitoring developments and filmed BP developing an area for which they had no permission.
Construction only started recently following the harsh winter.
BP need to finish the Georgian section of the pipeline this summer in order to meet their overall deadline of early 2005.
Environment Minister questions Borjomi route selection
"... if we had to face the route selection again, we would have definitely chosen another route"
Tamar Lebanidze, the Minister of Environment, July 2004
Lebinadze also confirmed that the Borjomi route was the cheapest option.
BP originally justified the route because of security concerns; now construction is stopped because for that reason. WWF has always maintained that the route selection was flawed. Article from the UK's Observer newspaper: BP's pipeline to nowhere: Georgia halts oil giant's £2.4bn project, July 25th 2004
