Samsun-Ceyhan Pipeline

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This article is part of the Global Fossil Infrastructure Tracker, a project of Global Energy Monitor and the Center for Media and Democracy.
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Samsun-Ceyhan Pipeline (SCP), previously called Trans-Anatolian Pipeline, not to be confused with the Trans-Anatolian Gas Pipeline, was a planned crude oil pipeline traversing Turkey from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean oil terminal in Ceyhan. The aim of this project is to provide an alternative route for Russian and Kazakhstani oil and to ease the traffic burden in the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles. The project was apparently shelved in 2013, and is now presumed to be cancelled.[1]

Location

The pipeline originates in Ünye and terminates in Ceyhan, Turkey.

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Project Details

  • Operator: Eni, Çalık Enerji, Rosneft, Transneft
  • Current capacity: 1,500,000 barrels per day
  • Length: 550 kilometres (340 miles)
  • Oil source: Russia, Kazakhstan
  • Status: Cancelled

History

The Samsun–Ceyhan pipeline is a shelved pipeline that was planned as a Bosphorus bypass. At the beginning of the 2000s, Tun Oil filed for construction of a pipeline from Samsun through Sivas to Ceyhan.[2] In 2003, the Italian energy company Eni studied possible oil transport routes from the North Caspian area. In 2004, based on the pre-feasibility study, the Samsun–Ceyhan route was selected. Another partner in the project, Turkish company Çalık Enerji, carried out technical and commercial studies, and filed for the construction license on 31 March 2004.[3] One of the route alternatives involved connecting the Kirikkale refinery; however, this option was rejected.[2]

On 26 September 2005, Eni and Çalık Enerji signed a Memorandum of Understanding for their joint cooperation in the project. A pipeline feasibility study was completed in March 2006. The construction license was granted in June 2006.[3] The Front End Engineering Design Phase was completed at the beginning of 2007, and the ground-breaking ceremony, attended by the Italian Minister for Economic Development Pierluigi Bersani and the Turkish Minister for Energy and Natural Resources Hilmi Güler, was held in Ceyhan on 24 April 2007.[4] In 2008, it was decided to move the starting point from Terme in Samsun Province to Ünye in Ordu Province.[5]

On 19 October 2009, at a ceremony held in Milan Italy, Russia and Turkey signed an intergovernmental agreement guaranteeing a stable regulatory framework and agreeing to the participation of Russian oil companies in the pipeline project. At the same ceremony, Eni and Çalık Enerji signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Transneft and Rosneft to include Russian companies in the development of the project.[6][7]

On 27 March 2013, Turkish energy minister Taner Yildiz announced that Eni would not be allowed to go forward with the project due to company's plans for the natural gas exploration off Cyprus, and that the pipeline's project may be suspended if Çalık continues their partnership with Eni. Turkey blacklisted Eni for its involvement with Cyrpus, a country that Turkey does not recognize, following Prime Minister Recep Tyyip Erdogan informing the United Nations that any company conducting business with Cyprus would be banned from the Turkish market.[1] Lehane, Bill (2013-03-27). "Turkey 'cuts ties with Eni' over Cyprus blocks", NHST Media Group. Retrieved on 2013-03-27.  </ref>

Technical features and financing

The project consists of the new unloading terminal and tank farm, a pipeline from the Ünye terminal to Ceyhan, and additional storage capacity in Ceyhan.[3][5] It will be connected with the existing Ceyhan loading terminal.[3]

The length of the pipeline will be 550 km. Starting from Sarız, the pipeline will follow the Baku Tbilisi Ceyhan Pipeline corridor. The diameter of the pipe will vary from 42 inches to 48 in inches. It will have four pumping stations and one pressure-reducing station. The designed capacity is 1.5 million barrels per day and initial capacity is 1 million barrels per day. The tank farm in Samsun will have a storage capacity of 6 million barrels and the additional tank farm in Ceyhan will have a storage capacity of 8 million barrels.[3]

The pipeline was scheduled to become operational in 2012.[8] The project costs are expected to be around $2 billion.[9]

Pipeline company

The pipeline will be constructed, owned and operated by the Trans-Anatolian Pipeline Company (TAPCO), a joint venture of Eni and Çalık Enerji incorporated in Turkey.[10] In 2006, it was announced that Indian Oil Corporation will have a 12.5% stake in the project; however, this deal was not completed.[10] Also Royal Dutch Shell and Total S.A. had expressed their interest in the project.[2] In 2009, it was decided that the new partners in the project will be Rosneft and Transneft, while Lukoil and Kazakhstan have expressed interest in participating in the project.[11]

Environmental impact

Ships passing through the Turkish Straits (the Bosporus and the Dardanelles) currently carry 120 million barrels of crude oil annually. This figure is expected to exceed 250 million barrels in the next 10 years. Tanker traffic in the Straits is expected to decrease by 50% when the Samsun–Ceyhan pipeline becomes operational.[12][13]

Articles and resources

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Turkey's Samsun-Ceyhan oil pipeline shelved, UPI, 23 Apr. 2013
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Template:Cite paper
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Template:Cite paper
  4. ↑ Template:Cite press release
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Turkey's Samsun-Ceyhan pipeline shortened, starting point changes", Hürriyet (2008-06-21). Retrieved on 2009-10-25. 
  6. ↑ Moloney, Liam (2009-10-19). "Eni, Calik, Rosneft Sign Turkey Oil Pipeline MoU", Capital.gr. Retrieved on 2013-03-27. Archived from the original on 2016-02-18. 
  7. ↑ Stephen Jewkes (2009-10-19). "Russia to supply oil to Samsun-Ceyhan pipeline", Reuters. Retrieved on 2009-10-24. 
  8. ↑ "Turkey Happy with Russia's Role in Samsun-Ceyhan Oil Pipeline", Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency) (2009-08-07). Retrieved on 2009-10-25. 
  9. ↑ "Eni breaks ground on Trans-Anatolian line", Oil & Gas Journal (2007-04-24). Retrieved on 2007-04-26. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "IOC acquires 12.5 % stake in TAPCO", Alexander's Gas & Oil Connections (2006-12-21). Retrieved on 2007-04-26. 
  11. ↑ Gleb Bryanski, Selcuk Gokoluk (2009-10-22). "Putin: Kazakhstan may take part in Samsun-Ceyhan", Reuters. Retrieved on 2009-10-24. 
  12. ↑ "Samsun-Ceyhan Pipeline Scheduled for 2009", Today's Zaman (June 2006-06-13). Retrieved on 2007-04-26. Archived from the original on 2011-06-05. 
  13. ↑ "Turkey to build new oil pipeline to ease burden of Istanbul, Canakkale straits", People's Daily Online (2006-06-24). Retrieved on 2007-04-26. 

Related SourceWatch articles

External resources

Wikipedia also has an article on the Samsun–Ceyhan pipeline. This article may use content from the Wikipedia articles under the terms of the GFDL.

External articles

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