Baku: BP, the operating company under the risk service agreement for the development of the Karabagh field in the Azerbaijan sector of the Caspian Sea, has announced the release of a draft Environmental and Socio-economic Impact Assessment (ESIA) document. The document outlines the plans for constructing a pipeline bundle fabrication facility, published on behalf of the Contractor Parties.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, the document summarizes proposed construction activities, evaluates potential environmental and socio-economic impacts, and proposes mitigation and monitoring measures. The ESIA process is designed to identify and minimize any adverse effects resulting from the proposed construction.
The facility is planned to be built near Bandovan Cape, approximately 85 km southwest of Baku. It will support in-country fabrication and testing of subsea bundles for the Karabagh project and other future offshore oil and gas developments in the Caspian Sea. The project includes several components, such as a fabrication hall, pipeline bundle trackways, a marine launchway, storage areas, and office spaces. Construction is slated to begin in the third quarter of 2026, with completion expected by the first quarter of 2028. A separate impact assessment will cover the operation of the facility and offshore development scope.
Stakeholder consultations are a crucial part of the ESIA process, ensuring that the project design reflects the collective views of interested parties. The full draft ESIA document and its non-technical summary are available in both Azerbaijani and English.
Since 1 May 2026, the ESIA document and summary have been accessible at several public locations, including the BP Xazar Centre, M.F. Akhundov Public Library, and the Scientific Library of the Azerbaijan Ministry of Science and Education, among others. Feedback is invited via email, post, or by submitting forms at these locations.
The ESIA disclosure period concludes on 31 May 2026, and BP encourages stakeholders to share their views and feedback on the draft ESIA.