Azerbaijan Oil Workers' Day (20/09)

Professional holiday of oil industry workers — Azerbaijan Oil Workers Day — is celebrated in the country annually on September 20, according to the Decree of the President of Azerbaijan dated August 16, 2001.

The date of the holiday is timed to coincide with an important historical event. On September 20, 1994, at the «Gulistan» Palace in Baku, an agreement was concluded «On the shared distribution of products» regarding the development of deep-sea fields «Azeri», «Chirag», «Guneshli» located in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea. In terms of historical, political and international significance, the agreement was called the «Contract of the Century» and was reflected in 400 pages and 4 languages.

«The contract of the century», both in terms of the amount of hydrocarbon reserves and the volume of investments, was included in the list of the largest agreements. Since its implementation, a turning point has occurred in the Azerbaijani economy, and the implementation of major work has begun. First of all, in 1995, as part of the primary oil production project, the Chirag-1 platform was restored in accordance with international standards, and in order to drill wells of greater inclination, the upper module of the platform was modernized and equipped with new equipment.

At the OSCE summit held in Istanbul (Turkey) in 1999, the presidents of the United States, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan signed an interstate Agreement on the construction of the « main export oil pipeline» Baku — Tbilisi — Ceyhan (BTC).

On September 18, 2002, with the participation of the President of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev and the presidents of Turkey and Georgia, the foundation was laid and construction of the BTC began. In October 2004, the Azerbaijani and Georgian sections of the main export oil pipeline were docked. The official grand opening of the entire oil pipeline took place on July 13, 2006. Its length was 1773 kilometers, and it passes through the territory of three — countries Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey.

This oil pipeline not only made it possible to bring Azerbaijani oil to world markets, but also became the main main line of the «Silk Road» and Turkic-speaking states. Also, the commissioning of the oil pipeline made it possible for Azerbaijan to more actively develop the resources of the Caspian basin.

Today, Oil Worker's Day is celebrated not only by those involved in the production and transportation of oil and natural gas. One way or another, over the past two decades, almost all sectors of the national economy have been connected with the oil industry. In honor of the holiday, all employees of this industry receive congratulations from colleagues and friends, and outstanding employees of the country's oil industry are awarded state awards and titles.

806