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. On August 8, 2004, the CAO received three separate complaints from individual residents of the village of Vale regarding land compensation. The complaints were filed by the Georgian Young Lawyers Association (GYLA) on behalf of the residents.

The CAO accepted the complaints on December 8, 2004. CAO worked together to facilitate agreements between BTC Co. and GYLA to resolve the complaints.