Eric Watkins
Oil Diplomacy Editor

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 12 -- BP PLC said its trans-Caucasus Baku-Supsa pipeline, also known as the Western Route Export Pipeline, remains shut a month after its closure due to the conflict last month between Russia and Georgia.

"It was shut as a security precaution," said BP spokesman David Nicholas. "The situation remains unchanged," he said of the line which had been carrying some 45,000-90,000 b/d of Azeri crude before the Aug. 12 shut down.

Last month, a BP spokesman said that efforts to restart the WREP had been "put on hold until we can assess the impact of this conflict on the integrity of this pipeline," (OGJ, Aug. 30, 2008).

The continued closure of the line adds to Azerbaijan's export problems as shipments of Azeri oil by rail across Georgia also remain halted after being stopped when railway bridge was damaged during the hostilities.

Despite the continued delays in reopening the oil export links, the region is still viewed as a viable energy corridor by neighboring governments and international oil companies.