The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline ..... the Baku-Supsa Pipeline .... the Nabucco pipeline .... the South Caucasus Pipeline ..... and why the Russian Federation invaded Georgia, took Gori, thus splitting the country in half.
First of all what is the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline:
The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline (sometimes abbreviated as BTC pipeline) is a crude oil pipeline that covers 1,768 kilometres (1,099 mi) from the Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli oil field in the Caspian Sea to the Mediterranean Sea. It connects Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan; Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia; and Ceyhan, a port on the south-eastern Mediterranean coast of Turkey, hence its name. It is the second longest oil pipeline in the world after the Druzhba pipeline. The first oil that was pumped from the Baku end of the pipeline on May 10, 2005 reached Ceyhan on May 28, 2006.[1]
Politics
Even before its completion, the BTC pipeline was affecting the world's oil politics. The South Caucasus, previously seen as Russia's backyard, is now a region of great strategic significance to other great powers. The U.S. and other Western nations have consequently become much more closely involved in the affairs of the three nations through which oil will flow. Some have criticized this degree of western involvement in the South Caucasus, arguing that it has led to an unhealthy dependence on undemocratic leaders.[citation needed] The countries themselves though have been trying to use the involvement as a counterbalance to Russian and Iranian economic and military dominance in the region.[15][22] It is seen similarly by Russian specialists claiming that the pipeline is aimed to weaken the Russian influence in the Caucasus. The Russian Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Konstantin Kosachev even stated that the United States and other Western countries are planning to settle their soldiers in Caucasus on the pretext of instability in regions where the pipeline passes through.[23]
The project also constitutes an important leg of the East-West energy corridor, gaining Turkey greater geopolitical importance. The BTC pipeline also supports Georgia's independence from Russian influence. Former President Eduard Shevardnadze, one of the architects and initiators of the project, saw the construction of the pipeline through Georgian territory as a certain guarantee for the country's future economic and political security and stability. This view has been fully shared by his successor President Mikhail Saakashvili. "All strategic contracts in Georgia, especially the contract for the Caspian pipeline are a matter of survival for the Georgian state," he told reporters on 26 November 2003.[24]"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan_pipeline
What is the Baku-Supsa pipeline ?
The Baku-Supsa Pipeline (also known as the Western Route Export Pipeline and Western Early Oil Pipeline) is an 830 kilometres (520 mi) long oil pipeline, which runs from the Sangachal Terminal near Baku to the Supsa terminal in Georgia. It transports oil from the Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli field. The pipeline is operated by BP.
After a major explosion and fire, which closed the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline on 6 (!) August 2008, the Baku-Supsa Pipeline was used to re-route Azeri oil deliveries.[4] On 12 August 2008, BP closed the pipeline for the safety reasons because of the South Ossetia conflict.[5]
What is the Nabucco pipeline:
"Nabucco pipeline is a planned natural gas pipeline that will transport natural gas from Turkey to Austria, via Bulgaria, Romania, and Hungary. It will run from Erzurum in Turkey to Baumgarten an der March, a major natural gas hub in Austria. This pipeline is a diversion from the current methods of importing natural gas solely from Russia which exposes EC to dependance and insecurity of the Kremlin practices. The project is backed by the European Union and the United States.[1][2]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nabucco_Pipeline
What is the South Caucasus pipeline ?
South Caucasus Pipeline (also: Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum Pipeline, PTE pipeline or Shah-Deniz Pipeline) is a natural gas pipeline to transport natural gas from the Shah Deniz gas field in the Azerbaijan sector of the Caspian Sea to Turkey.
On 12 August 2008, BP closed the pipeline for the safety reasons because of the South Ossetia conflict.[3] Gas supplies were resumed on 14 August 2008.[4]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Caucasus_Pipeline
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Map of Georgia:
http://www.un.org/depts/Cartographic/map/profile/georgia.pdf
Map of the Georgia region showing the routes of the above mentioned pipelines:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Baku_pipelines.svg