Pipeline Done, Oil From Azerbaijan Begins Flowing to Turkey

[Inland]

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/26/business/worldbusiness/26pipeline.html
By ERIN E. ARVEDLUND
Published: May 26, 2005
MOSCOW, May 25 - A long-awaited $3.6 billion pipeline linking the Caspian Sea to the Mediterranean took its first flow of crude oil from Azerbaijan on Wednesday, opening a conduit that may help reduce Western dependence on Middle Eastern oil.

Heads of state from the neighboring countries of Georgia, Kazakhstan and Turkey were on hand for the inauguration ceremony not far from Baku, the Azerbaijan capital. The United States energy secretary, Samuel W. Bodman, and Lord Browne, chief executive of the British energy giant BP, which led the pipeline investment consortium were also there.

The presence of the officials underscored how politically important the Caspian region has become as an alternative energy source to the Middle East.

[Maple]

1. Caspian Sea Pipeline A Bust?

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20050524/ROILBAKU24/TPInternational/TopStories

[Inland]

2. Huh, hadn't heard this. nt

[lapfog_1]

3. wasn't there a James Bond film on this???

[Robb]

4. Azerbaijan is no Turkmenistan

...what an odd thing to type.