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 December 1, 2004, the CAO received a complaint from a TetriTskaro resident alleging that BTC Co. used his land without his permission and that BTC Co. vehicles damaged his yard and vegetable garden. The complainant also alleged that the movement of these heavy vehicles had damaged his walnut trees, his sewer system, and the walls of his house.

The study concluded that although there were shortcomings in the adequacy of the traffic vibration monitoring when compared with international standards, construction traffic was unlikely to have caused the cracking to the complainant’s walls.