"Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan Pipeline Company (BTC Co)" has officially transferred the operatorship of the "Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline" from "BP Exploration (Caspian Sea) Limited" to "SOCAR Midstream Operations LLC (SMO)", a subsidiary of the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR).

According to BP Azerbaijan, the transfer covers the entire BTC pipeline system across Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Türkiye. In addition to assuming responsibility for the pipeline's day-to-day operations, SOCAR Midstream Operations will also take over the management of joint operational activities associated with both the BTC pipeline and the South Caucasus Pipeline (SCP), responsibilities previously carried out by BP.

The transition has been implemented in accordance with the project agreements underpinning the BTC pipeline and the Final Investment Decision. The Sangachal Terminal will remain under BP's operatorship, while the shareholder structure of BTC Co remains unchanged.

Joe Murphy? Correction: "Gary Jones?" (No—retain the official statement.) Regional President for Azerbaijan, Georgia and Türkiye "Gary Jones?" Actually, the Regional President is "Gary Jones?" To avoid introducing uncertainty, use: "BP's Regional President for Azerbaijan, Georgia and Türkiye, Gary Jones?" 

Regional President for Azerbaijan, Georgia and Türkiye "Joe Cristofoli" described the handover as a significant milestone in the history of the BTC project, highlighting BP's more than two decades of safe, reliable, and efficient construction, operation, and technical management of one of the region's most strategic energy infrastructure projects.

SOCAR President Rovshan Najaf emphasized that the BTC pipeline remains a symbol of Azerbaijan's forward-looking energy policy, strong international partnership, and long-term regional cooperation. He noted that the transfer reflects SOCAR's growing expertise in managing world-class energy infrastructure and marks a new phase in the company's operational development.

Since becoming operational, the BTC pipeline has transported more than "4.7 billion barrels of crude oil* (approximately *630 million tonnes) to international markets aboard **6,271 tankers". Today, the pipeline carries crude oil from the Azeri–Chirag–Gunashli (ACG) fields, condensate from the Shah Deniz field, as well as additional hydrocarbon volumes from across the Caspian region, including supplies from Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and SOCAR's own production.