Baku Ceyhan Campaign: press advisory
BP’s new Caspian pipeline: fir for public funding? Company to face tough questions over new pipeline plan
24 October, 2002
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24 October, 2002
Experts’ Seminar: 12-2pm, Monday 28 October On the eve of BP’s quarterly financial results, the oil giant is to face tough questioning from parliamentarians and others at an Expert Seminar in the House of Lords.
Place: Committee Room G, House of Lords, London
Book Launch: Soho Theatre, Dean St, W1; 5.45-7.30pm 28 October
The seminar – consisting of an invited audience of parliamentarians, oil analysts, government officials, fund managers and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) – will consider the proposed Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, which BP wants to build through Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey.
The pipeline would cost $3.3 billion and carry a million barrels of oil a day.
The pipeline is BP’s biggest new project for the past 30 years. BP has said the pipeline cannot be built without “free public money” and is seeking UK public subsidies for the project. It will apply for these in December.
Independent Fact Finding Missions to the region, however, have revealed serious concerns over the project:
In response to BP’s wish to consult with “project stakeholders”, a coalition of UK NGOs has arranged an expert seminar in the House of Lords, hosted by Lord Avebury, and introduced by Tony Juniper, Vice Chair of Friends of the Earth International. Among those speaking will be members of a delegation from the three affected countries, now visiting the UK to meet some of the key backers of the pipeline and express their concerns.
To assess BP’s claims for the pipeline against its record elsewhere, the seminar will also hear from guest speakers from Alaska, Scotland and Colombia, where BP operates three other pipelines. The speakers include:
BP has been invited to respond to the invited stakeholders. All speakers will be available for interview.
Following the Seminar, activist/comedian Mark Thomas will launch a new book on the pipeline, looking at BP’s claims in the light of the company’s record elsewhere. Advance copies of the book, ‘Some Common Concerns’, are available on request from Kate Geary 01865 200550 or Greg Muttitt on 0208 8095349.
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT
- Kate Geary, Campaign Co-ordinator, 01865 200550, email: ilisu@gn.apc.org
- Greg Muttitt, Baku Ceyhan Campaign, 0208 8095349
- Nick Hildyard, Director, Baku Ceyhan Campaign, 01258 473795
- Nick Rau, Friends of the Earth, 020 7566 1673
- Roger Higman, Friends of the Earth, 020 75661661
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