BAKU, July 24, 2025 — British oil giant BP and Italian energy company Eni have reported contamination in crude oil shipments exported from Azerbaijan through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline, raising concerns about the quality of oil reaching European refineries.
According to a report by Bloomberg, BP — the largest oil producer in Azerbaijan and operator of the BTC pipeline through BTC Co. — stated that some batches of Azerbaijani crude were found to contain organic chlorides. These chemical compounds, often used in oil production, can cause significant damage to refinery equipment if not properly removed.
“BTC Co. has been notified of a potential quality issue involving organic chlorides in certain batches of crude oil transported through the BTC pipeline,” BP said in a statement. “The company is currently assessing crude quality across all facilities along the route.”
Italian energy major Eni also confirmed that it had received contaminated oil, which was identified during internal testing at its refineries. “Crude already within our systems will now be processed appropriately, with no risk to the environment, health, or safety,” a company spokesperson emphasized.
The BTC pipeline is a critical route for Azerbaijani oil exports, delivering crude to the Turkish port of Ceyhan. It currently transports approximately 575,000 barrels per day and also serves as a key export channel for Kazakhstan, according to Bloomberg.
Contamination with organic chlorides has disrupted global oil markets in the past — most notably during the 2019 Druzhba pipeline crisis in Russia. Experts warn that if the current issue is not resolved quickly, it could impact international confidence in the reliability of oil supplies from the South Caucasus region.
As of late 2024, Azerbaijan was exporting crude oil to at least eight countries. It remains unclear how widespread the contamination is or what impact it may have on future export volumes. An investigation into the source and extent of the contamination is reportedly underway.
