New customs post opened

The Azerbaijan International Operating Company operated by BP, the State Customs Committee and the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic opened a new customs post at the Sahil settlement near Baku Tuesday. The post is the second facility of this kind, which Azerbaijan's State Customs Committee has opened in support of AIOC's operations.

The opening of the post is aimed at facilitating delivery of AIOC's major projects as large quantities of supplies and materials will need to be imported into Azerbaijan in support of these projects. The post will handle about 90% of the total of goods and supplies to be delivered by ships, railway and trucks for AIOC projects. At peak this will amount to over 50 000 tonnes of cargoes per month including pipe.

The first similar facility, which was later given the name of Sahil Post, was opened in 1997 to support customs clearance operations for AIOC's cargoes.

Speaking at the new customs post opening ceremony on Monday, bp President in Azerbaijan David Woodward commended the opening of the post "I would like to pay tribute to the significant contribution that the Azerbaijan State Customs Administration has made to the success of our projects to date", he noted.