Field Verification of Land Compensation for AGT Pipeline

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Status: Completed

Full Activity Title: Provision of Field Verification of Land Compensation by SPJV Construction Contractor

Location: Gardabani, Rustavi, Marneuli, Tetritskaro, Tsalka, Borjomi, Akhaltikhe, Adigeni

Activity Dates: June, 2005 – December, 2005

Source of Funding: South Caucasus Pipeline Company

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Project Abstract

The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil and South Caucasus gas pipelines are to transport crude oil and gas from fields in the Caspian See, running from Azerbaijan through Georgia and Turkey to the Turkish port of Ceyhan. BP Exploration Ltd., operator company for the construction, acquires rights to land in Georgia for both construction and operational period of pipelines and interacts with all land owners and users in the construction corridor.

APLR has been contracted by the South Caucasus Pipeline Company to carry out field verification checks for payments by Spie Capac Petrofac Joint Venture (SPJV), main construction contractor, which is required to pay compensations to affected population for crop loss and other damage to land temporarily required for construction, such as extra working areas, access roads and construction camps outside construction corridor.

APLR checks compliance of compensation payment methodology and complaint procedures used by construction contractor with existing requirements and for this purpose develops field verification audit forms and audit checklists, interviews affected landowners/lessees and carries out field audits, maintains public awareness among affected population via free-of-charge distribution of Landowner magazine including a special insert of the procedures/SPJV commitments in the construction process, reports findings and violations to the pipeline company.

The project implementation contributes to the protection of property rights of affected population and to better communication between local communities and operator company.