Kulevi oil terminal
Encyclopedia
The Kulevi oil terminal is an oil
port on the eastern Black Sea
coast in Georgia
. The terminal is located in Khobi District
, close to the populated area of the village Kulevi, and from the coastal area between rivers Tsiva and Khobistskali.
. In late 2002 though, the project was put on hold, due to environmental concerns and insufficient funds. Construction resumed in September 2004 under an international consortium of investors led by a Georgian business tycoon Badri Patarkatsishvili
. Two years later Badri Patarkatsishvili
sold his stake in Kulevi Terminal, then still under construction, to the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan
(SOCAR) for an undisclosed sum of money.
The terminal was complete by November 2007 and was officially opened on 16 May 2008.
The terminal has annual processing capacity of 10 million tonnes of crude oil and refined products. SOCAR plans to increase the capacity of the terminal to 20 million tonness per year. That would make Kulevi the largest oil terminal in South Caucasus
.
Petroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
port on the eastern Black Sea
Black Sea
The Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
coast in Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
. The terminal is located in Khobi District
Khobi District
Khobi is a district of Georgia, in the region of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti. Its main town is Khobi.Population: 41,240 Area: 659 km²- External links :* , Statoids.com...
, close to the populated area of the village Kulevi, and from the coastal area between rivers Tsiva and Khobistskali.
Construction
The Kulevi Oil Terminal project was originally authorised by president Shevardnadze's decree on September 8, 1999. Subsequently, the construction began near the village of Kulevi by Terminal 2000 Ltd, a partnership created between Argomar Oil Ltd and Georgian RailwayGeorgian Railway
Georgian Railway LLC is the national rail company of the country of Georgia.A vital artery linking the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, it sits on the shortest route between Europe and Central Asia...
. In late 2002 though, the project was put on hold, due to environmental concerns and insufficient funds. Construction resumed in September 2004 under an international consortium of investors led by a Georgian business tycoon Badri Patarkatsishvili
Badri Patarkatsishvili
Arkady "Badri" Patarkatsishvili was a wealthy Georgian businessman, who was also extensively involved in politics. He contested the 2008 Georgian presidential election and came third with 7.1% of the votes...
. Two years later Badri Patarkatsishvili
Badri Patarkatsishvili
Arkady "Badri" Patarkatsishvili was a wealthy Georgian businessman, who was also extensively involved in politics. He contested the 2008 Georgian presidential election and came third with 7.1% of the votes...
sold his stake in Kulevi Terminal, then still under construction, to the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan
State Oil Company of Azerbaijan
The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic is the state-owned oil and natural gas corporation of Azerbaijan. It is considered to be one of the largest oil companies in the world. It produces oil and natural gas, operates the country's two oil refineries and the running of oil and gas pipelines...
(SOCAR) for an undisclosed sum of money.
The terminal was complete by November 2007 and was officially opened on 16 May 2008.
Description
Kulevi Oil Terminal incorporates three piers, a canal for tankers, a mobile service fleet of 9 vessels, and a laboratory for oil and refined products testing. The terminal has a tank park with overall storage capacity of 320000 cubic metres (11,300,693.2 cu ft) with the prospect of increase up to 380000 cubic metres (13,419,573.2 cu ft). For loading operations there are two berths for receiving tankers with tonnage up to 100,000 tonnes. Loading performance is from 1,000 to 8,000 m3/h. The terminal has its own railway station, where 180 oil tank cars can be placed for discharging. The trestles make possible the simultaneous discharge of 168 oil tank cars, through four railway branches.The terminal has annual processing capacity of 10 million tonnes of crude oil and refined products. SOCAR plans to increase the capacity of the terminal to 20 million tonness per year. That would make Kulevi the largest oil terminal in South Caucasus
South Caucasus
The South Caucasus is a geopolitical region located on the border of Eastern Europe and Southwest Asia also referred to as Transcaucasia, or The Trans-Caucasus...
.