VZCZCXRO2325
PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHSI #0509 0761303
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 171303Z MAR 09 ZEL
FM AMEMBASSY TBILISI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1191
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

UNCLAS TBILISI 000509 
 
C O R R E C T E D COPY (CLASS MARKING) 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR S/CT - SHARRI R. CLARK 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PTER PGOV ASEC EFIN ENRG KCIP
SUBJECT: GEORGIA: CI/KR RESPONSE FOR S/CT 
 
REF: SECSTATE 15113 
 
¶1. (SBU)  Based on Reftel action request, Embassy held a 
meeting with relevant mission sections to discuss the 
National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP) and any 
critical infrastructure and key resources (CI/KR) in Georgia 
whose loss could impact U.S. homeland security.  Noting the 
inclusion on the list from 2008 of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan 
Pipeline (BTC), the discussion began with a review of the 
continued placement of the BTC pipeline on the list.  Given 
that the pipeline transports approximately 1 million barrels 
of oil per day, with 10 million barrels inside the pipeline 
at any given time, disruption to the pipeline would have 
serious ramifications on the global energy market and 
resource availability to the homeland.  The pipeline also 
provides a ready source of energy to western markets that 
does not pass through Russian hands.  In addition, the South 
Caucasus Pipeline, or Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum Pipeline (BTE), 
carries natural gas in a 42 inch diameter pipeline along the 
same corridor as the BTC.  The pipeline carries up to 7 
billion cubic meters of gas, and was built in the same 
corridor to minimize environmental impact.  Post believes 
that the placement of this pipeline along the same line 
further increases the importance of BTC for the global 
economy, as any disruption of BTC could also very likely 
impact BTE. 
 
¶2.  (SBU)  For these reasons, post believes that the BTC 
pipeline should remain on the 2009 CI/KR list for Georgia. 
There were no additional items for inclusion to the list. 
TEFFT