The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil and gas pipeline is a 1,768 km long crude oil pipeline stretching from the Caspian Sea to the Mediterranean Sea. It is the second longest oil pipeline in the world and passes through Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey. IFC has invested $250 million since 2003 and the total project cost is approximately $3.6 billion. The project is operated by BTC Co., which comprises a consortium of 11 partners. To date, CAO has received 33 complaints in relation to the project ranging from individuals to communities to local organizations. In May 2004, the CAO received seven complaints related to the BTC pipeline project in Georgia, filed by a Georgian NGO named Green Alternative on behalf of affected residents. Among the complaints was a claim from an individual in TetriTskaro, who alleged that his telephone line and a wall surrounding his property were damaged by BTC construction trucks. He also alleged that the movement of these trucks near his house caused damage to his water pipes.

CAO accepted the complaint for further assessment on June 8, 2004, and released an assessment report in September 2004. CAO found that a lack of evidence or witnesses to the individual’s claims made his allegations extremely difficult to substantiate.