Oil Pipeline Through Georgian Republic Runs Into Trouble

The Oil Hits the Fan

A $3 billion, 1,000-mile pipeline -- slated to be pumping oil from the newly opened Caspian oilfields through Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey to the world market by April 2005 -- has run into a whole mess of trouble. Environmentalists and many local groups are incensed that the pipeline, being built by BP, is set to run through the Borzhomi mountain gorge, a pristine and landslide-prone area that is the source of Borzhomi mineral water (Georgia's third-largest export) and many of the region's tourism dollars. Farmers are incensed that the land-development grants distributed by BP -- originally seen as an economic boon to the poverty-stricken villagers -- have been swallowed by a notoriously corrupt and rickety government and judicial system poorly equipped to handle them. Georgian construction workers are incensed about what they claim are poor working conditions and compensation plans. Meanwhile, Western officials are incensed that their oil's getting held up. What's the Georgian word for "fubar"?

straight to the source: Christian Science Monitor, Fred Weir, 16 Jan 2004

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	Read more about: Azerbaijan \| business \| energy \| food and agriculture \| Georgia \| globalization \| mining and drilling \| population \| renewable energy \| Turkey \| wildlife \| all of these topics Tools: print \| email \| write to the editor \| subscribe \| RSS Share: digg \| hugg \| stumbleupon \| reddit \| newsvine \| fark \| facebook Bookmark: del.icio.us \| google \| yahoo The Oil Hits the Fan Oil Pipeline Through Georgian Republic Runs Into Trouble A $3 billion, 1,000-mile pipeline -- slated to be pumping oil from the newly opened Caspian oilfields through Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey to the world market by April 2005 -- has run into a whole mess of trouble. Environmentalists and many local groups are incensed that the pipeline, being built by BP, is set to run through the Borzhomi mountain gorge, a pristine and landslide-prone area that is the source of Borzhomi mineral water (Georgia's third-largest export) and many of the region's tourism dollars. Farmers are incensed that the land-development grants distributed by BP -- originally seen as an economic boon to the poverty-stricken villagers -- have been swallowed by a notoriously corrupt and rickety government and judicial system poorly equipped to handle them. Georgian construction workers are incensed about what they claim are poor working conditions and compensation plans. Meanwhile, Western officials are incensed that their oil's getting held up. What's the Georgian word for "fubar"? straight to the source: Christian Science Monitor, Fred Weir, 16 Jan 2004 ADVERTISING POLICY Comments: There are no comments. Be the first to post! You are not logged in. Thus, you cannot post a comment. If you have a Gristmill account, log in below. If you don't have a Gristmill account, well, by all means go make one! Meet you back here in five. Username: Password: Forgot your password? Enter your username and click: The comments of Grist users reflect the opinions of those individuals only, and do not necessarily reflect the viewpoints of Grist, its staff, its board members, their psychotherapists, or their aestheticians. Got it?	Also in Grist Naked Truth Lush employees go bare to protest excess packaging. Summer Pudding Chronicles Turn your summer berries into a delectable pudding. Assault and Battery Umbra refutes the rumors that hybrids aren't actually green. Chips Ahoy! A review of 10 health-food-store potato-chip brands. The Week's Most Popular Viewed Commented Emailed Ask Umbra on Method cleansers How to start composting Ask Umbra on toxins in your body A look at the environmental record of Joe Biden, Barack Obama's running mate Making a stink about green(ish) deodorants NYT Magazine probes Obama's economic thinking A choice of primary energies: renewable electrons win the gold No schadenfreude over the death of SUVs Can sustainable farming provide a sustainable living? How to start composting Enviros generally pleased with Biden's record on environmental issues Ask Umbra on Method cleansers Making a stink about green(ish) deodorants On summer's end and salad dressing From the Archives Thursday, 15 Jan 2004 Wednesday, 14 Jan 2004 Viscous Cycle, 13 Jan 2004 Daily Grist Archives