Wärtsilä has won the contract to supply 18 pumping units for the Turkish section of the BTC (Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan) pipeline. The units will be installed at 4 pumping stations in the highlands of Turkey. The total power to be generated by the units is approximately 100 MW.
The order consists of Wärtsilä 34SG gas fuelled engines, speed increasing gear-boxes and centrifugal crude oil pumps. The natural gas to the stations will be supplied via a gas pipeline running in parallel to the crude oil pipeline. The entire Turkish section of the pipeline with pumping stations will be constructed and operated by Botas Pipeline Company.
Wärtsilä will deliver the units during 2003, starting late summer and the final delivery being at the beginning of 2004. The operation of BTC pipeline is planned to start during the first quarter of 2005. The pipeline will be of crucial importance in delivering the landlocked oil and gas resources of the Caspian to the European and Western markets by avoiding the environmentally sensitive and congested Bosporus strait.
This pipeline begins in Azerbaijan continuing via Georgia to the Mediterranean port of Ceyhan. The pipeline in Turkey represents some 1070 km of the total 1790 km long pipeline. The pumping stations are located at elevation of 1600 m to 2140 m above sea level.
Wärtsilä Corporation is the leading global ship power supplier and a major provider of solutions for decentralized power generation and of supporting services. In addition Wärtsilä operates a Nordic engineering steel company and manages substantial shareholdings to support the development of its core business.
Eeva Kainulainen
Vice President, Corporate Communications
Wärtsilä Corporation
Direct tel: +358 10 709 5235
e-mail: eeva.kainulainen@wartsila.com
