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AZERBAIJANInformation Handbook

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ContentCountry profileClimateAzerbaijan - the “Land of Fire”Highlights of Azerbaijan’s oil history Interesting facts about AzerbaijanBakuHighlights of BakuShoppingBankingMobile OperatorsInternetBP Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey RegionBecoming an expatriate in AzerbaijanUseful links

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Azerbaijan, officially known as the Republic of Azerbaijan (Azerbaijani: Azərbaycan Respublikası), is the largest countryin the Caucasus region of Eurasia.

Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bordered by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west and Iran to the south. The landlocked enclave of Nakhchivan is surrounded by Armenia to the north and east, Iran to the south and west and Turkey to the northwest.

Country profile

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Official name: Republic of Azerbaijan

Country Population: 9,111,000 people (2010 census)

Capital city: Baku with a population of 2,064,900 (2010 census)

Area: 86 600 sq. km., 33 436 sq. miles (slightly smaller than Maine and larger than Scotland)

Language: Azerbaijani is the official language although English and Russian are widely spoken

Time Zone: GMT + 4 hours

Calling Code: +994

Major cities: Agdam, Barda, Shirvan, Ganja, Khankendi, Lankaran, Mingechevir, Naftalan, Nakchivan, Sumgayit, Sheki, Shusha, Yevlakh

GDP per capita (PPP): $10,900 (2010 data)

Religion: Azerbaijan is a secular state


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Summer is usually hot and dry, with the daily temperature in July and August averaging 27.4°C (79.5°F) accompanied by almost no rainfall. Winter is cold and sometimes wet with the daily temperature in January and February averaging 4.3°C (39.7°F). Very occasionally there will be snow.

On the Absheron peninsula the climate has been improved by parks and gardens which have been planted for centuries. The natural landscape consists of rocks, saline soils and steppes that become covered by grass in spring.

Elsewhere in Azerbaijan numerous sources of spring water exist, especially in the alpine zones and in the many woods

The climate of Azerbaijan is varied. Climate zones range from dry and subtropical with hot summers and normally mild winters to a forest/alpine zone in the mountains.

Baku has an arid climate, with hot summers and cold and occasionally wet winters. It is also a windy city year-round enduring both a cold northern wind Khazri and a warm southern wind Gilavar.

Climate

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containing ancient types of trees. Here the climate can be rainy even in the summer.

There are also vast steppes and high mountain ranges attracting climbers, tourists, visitors and those interested in nature.


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Azerbaijan is one of the oldest centers of human civilization and is a country with a rich and ancient history. The oldest settlements have been traced back to the 6th century BC. The earliest known written source to mention the name Azerbaijan (as Ador Bad Agan) dates from the 6th century BC and means a “place protected by the holy fire”. Arabs, who arrived in the 7th century to conquer and to spread Islam in the region, named the area “Azer-Baigan”. This word may be translated as “The Treasury of Fire” or “The Land of the Fire”. The roots of the word Azerbaijan are also closely linked to the once-dominant Zoroastrian religion.

Azerbaijan – the ancient

“Land of Fire”

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Azerbaijan’s favorable geographic position, its rich natural resources and its agreeable climate has always made it attractive to outsiders. Through the centuries it has been invaded and occupied by various tribes and empires and been influenced by diverse cultures including Turkic, Persian, Arabic and Russian. Today every area of the country can boast archeological artifacts showing that a wide variety of peoples have lived there in the past.

Overrun by Romans, Iranians, Arabs during the centuries and conquered by Russia in 1813, Azerbaijan established the


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first democratic state in the Muslim East in 1918. Azerbaijan became part of the Soviet Union in 1922 and regained its independence in 1991 following the collapse of communism and the USSR.

The territory of the country as a whole can be pictured as a giant tray tilted east towards the Caspian Sea. This causes all the rivers of Azerbaijan to flow into the Caspian – the largest land-locked body of water on earth – so boosting its unique and rich biodiversity. Among the fauna of the Caspian Sea are sturgeon, salmon, bream, herring and other fish.

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In addition Azerbaijan has about 250 lakes, six national parks, 13 nature reserves and 21 protected areas occupying 8% of the total territory of the country. Two thirds of Azerbaijan is rich in oil and natural gas.

Azerbaijan also is home to some distinct and historic cultural, economic, sporting and leisure activities. Alongside traditions of carpet-weaving, stone-carving, copper-engraving, silk production and embroidery, some unusual sports are to be found including gulesh (Azeri wrestling) and chovgan (horse racing). Hunting and fishing are very much part of the local culture.


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• Thefirst-evermechanically-drilledoilwellwascompletedintheBibi-HeybatsuburbofBakuin1846

• In1900Azerbaijanproducedmorethanhalfoftheworld’soil,equivalentto11.4milliontons

Highlights of Azerbaijan oil history

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• In 1897-1907 the largest oil pipeline in the world was built linking Baku to Batumi, a distance of 883 km (about 550 miles)

• About 80% of Soviet oil production during the Second World War came from Azerbaijan. Production peaked in 1941 at 23.5 million tons

• The first offshore oil production in the world got underway in Azerbaijan in 1924 at Bibi Heybat beach. Open sea production began in 1947 at Oil Rocks


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In the Middle East context:• The first opera and ballet performances were staged in Baku

in 1908• The first circus building was constructed in Baku in 1904• Women were given voting rights in Azerbaijan in 1918• The first musical conservatory was built in 1920

Interesting facts about Azerbaijan

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In the Soviet era context:• The first electric train started from Baku in 1926• The first factory making air conditioners in the USSR was

built in Azerbaijan

In the global context:• The Nobel Prize was based originally on capital earned by

Alfred Nobel from oil operations around Baku. Today 12% of the Nobel Prize fund is derived from this source.

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BakuBaku, one of the most atmospheric cities of the Caucasus and former Soviet Union, is sited at the crossroads between Europe and Asia. It is located on the western coast of the Caspian Sea and the southern part of the oil-rich Absheron peninsula.

The name Baku can be traced back to its ancient designation of “Bad-kube,” meaning “City of Wind.”

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The modern conurbation of Baku includes the biggest port in Azerbaijan, 11 administrative districts and five “urban settlements”. In the past decade the city has expanded into a major cultural, industrial and political center for the Caucasus region.


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Maiden’s Tower (Qız Qalası) – the traditional symbol of Baku surrounded by myth and legends.

Old City – the historic part of Baku classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

State Philarmonic Hall – designed in an architectural style similar to the of the Monte Carlo casino and the Monte Carlo opera house.

National Opera and Ballet Theatre – the first opera in the Middle East was written in Azerbaijan.

Highlights of Baku

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Gobustan Petroglyphs – Located about 1 hour south of Baku Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape has outstanding universal value for the quality and density of its rock art engravings, for the substantial evidence the collection of rock art images presents for hunting, fauna, flora and lifestyles in pre-historic times. In 2007 Gobustan was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Culture – Baku has many amenities that offer a wide range of cultural activities, drawing both from a rich local dramatic

Old City National Opera and Ballet Theatre


Maiden’s Tower (Qız Qalası)

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portfolio and an international repertoire. It also boasts many museums such as Baku Museum of Modern Art and Azerbaijan State Museum of History and many others. Among famous festivals are Baku International Jazz Festival, NovruzFestival,GülBayramı(FlowerFestival)andtheNationalTheater Festival. Baku was also selected to host Eurovision Song Contest in 2012.

Social life – Baku has a reputation for its vibrant social life and many clubs that remain open until dawn can be found throughout the city. There are a number of good restaurants with an eastern style that serve Azerbaijan cuisine accompanied by local music as well as numerous western style clubs and pubs. Standards vary from the luxurious and expensive to the affordable.

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Park Bulvar Mall – a popular entertainment and shopping center. It includes world-famous shopping stores, a 3D cinema at one of seven auditoriums, a food court, a planetarium and tenpin bowling. http://www.parkbulvar.az

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Food shopping in Baku is relatively easy. There are numberof stores that import and sell favorite expatriate foods and brands. Similarly, there are many small local stores and bazaars which offer a wide range of day‑to‑day basics and staple goods.

Shopping

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Bazaars in Azerbaijan reflect the country’s culture. Beautifully displayed selections of fresh fruit and vegetables can be seen year-round varying according to season. The counters often surprise with the diversity of their eastern specialties – peanuts, pistachios, almonds, dates, dried apricots, raisins and many other products.


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Much of the food on offer comes straight from the countryside and is grown without herbicides or pesticides. A wide range of fish and caviar is usually for sale originating from the Caspian, the country’s rivers or imported frozen from Dubai and elsewhere.

Baku also is home to plenty of stylish brand shops such as Benetton, Sisley, Debenhams, Zara, Mango, Nine West, Etam and DKNY. Luxury brands including Burberry, Christian Dior, Armani and Gucci can be found downtown around Baku Boulevard.

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A wide range of electronic goods are available (household and leisure). These imported goods will normally have a premium on them compared with UK or US.

The city has a number of children’s clothing and toy stores including internationally-recognized brands such as Mothercare. Baku’s main street is called “Torgovaya” and boasts many well-known outlets. Shop opening hours in the city are 10 am through to 8.00 or 9.00 p.m. in the evening, seven days a week including public holidays.


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Azerbaijan’s national currency is the manat (AZN). One manat is worth 100 gapiks. Foreign currency and traveller’s checks may be exchanged for manats in all banks. Currency exchange may also be conducted at any official exchange outlet in the city. ATM machines are widely available in Baku and other cities and are often to be found in business and shopping centers, at underground stations and on streets.

Banking

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In many respects Azerbaijan remains a cash-based society so it pays to always have some cash with you.

The most widely-known and accepted credit cards in Azerbaijan are Visa, MasterCard and American Express. Most shopping centers and restaurants in Baku will accept cards but outside the capital credit or debit cards are not widely used. Money may be transferred into Azerbaijan using the services of such companies as Western Union and Money Gram.

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There are three GSM mobile service providers currently operating in Azerbaijan – Azercell Telecom, Bakcell Telecom and Azerfon-Vodafone.

Pre-paid SIM-cards can be purchased at any of the many mobile phone shops dotted around Baku. The cost of the card varies between US$12 - US$40.

A wide variety of mobile phones are on sale. If you possess a mobile phone already it is recommended to bring it with you as it may well work in Azerbaijan. In this case you will be required to purchase a SIM card only.

Mobile Operators

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InternetThe market in internet service providers in Azerbaijan is well developed in terms of quality and range of services provided.The Internet is widely used in Baku. Many restaurants and cafes offer free Wi-Fi services while round-the-clock access to the Net is available from a well developed network of Internet cafes and clubs.


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Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey (AGT) Region is a BP organisational unit, operating a number of major upstream, midstream and exploration projects in Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey. The projects include the Azeri-Chirag-Deepwater Gunashli (ACG) oil field and the Shah Deniz gas and condensate field and Shafag-Asiman offshore block. Three export pipelines – Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (oil), South Caucasus Pipeline (gas) and Western Route Export Pipeline (oil) – link the AGT region to world markets.

BP Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey Region

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ACG is an estimated 5.4 billion-barrel oil field offshore in the Caspian Sea. BP started developing this field under a Production Sharing Agreement signed in 1994. Currently, the field is fully operational and oil is being produced from five platforms.

The Shah Deniz (SD) project is a gas condensate offshore development with GIIP (gas initially in place) of around 33 trillion cubic feet together with some one billion barrels of condensate. The product is moved to markets in Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey along specially constructed pipelines (see below). A second phase SD project will deliver an additional 16 bcma and up to 100,000 barrels of condensate and link into the


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European Union as well as to the existing markets in Georgia and Turkey.

Sangachal terminal, is one of the biggest oil and gas processing terminals in the world. It is sited 45 km south of Baku. The facility has a processing capacity in excess of one million barrels of oil and one billion cubic feet of gas a day. From Sangachal the processed hydrocarbons are exported through three main pipelines - Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan, South Caucasus and Western Route.

Shafag-Asiman offshore block covers an area of 1,100 sq km and is located in a deepwater section of about 650-800 meters.

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Joint exploration and development of the block is envisaged with SOCAR, the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan.

Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline was built by an international consortium led by BP to provide a secure export link for ACG oil. The pipeline crosses Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey. From the Ceyhan terminal in Turkey the oil is shipped by tanker to world markets.

South Caucasus pipeline (SCP) moves Shah Deniz gas from Azerbaijan through Georgia to the Turkish border. It is 690 km long and was constructed jointly with, and in the same corridor as, the BTC oil export pipeline in order to minimize the environmental and social impact.


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Reconnaissance visitReasonable travel, accommodation, meals and local transport costs during a reconnaissance visit are covered by the company. Relocation supportBP covers the cost of shipment by sea or road freight of personal goods and household effects as per the BP Expatriate Shipping Policy. Temporary Home/Host accommodation and long term accommodation and transport are also provided.

Becoming an expatriate in Azerbaijan

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ImmigrationExpatriate employees receive full support from the company in arranging visitors’ visas and work and residence permits to allow initial travel to Azerbaijan and thereafter to work and reside in the country during an assignment. BP also provides assistance in obtaining visas and residence permits for eligible unaccompanied dependants who remain in home locations.

HousingHousing in Azerbaijan is on a “provided” basis. This means that BP provides long-term expatriates and accompanying family members with houses or apartments from a pool of accommodation which BP maintains in the country. Housing is provided at no cost to expatriates. BP also pays for reasonable tap water, gas and electricity usage. Houses are allocated exclusively to families with children of school age who are resident in country. Others will be allocated apartments. Assignees may have to stay in temporary accommodation until long-term accommodation becomes available.

SchoolingA good school called TISA (The International School of Azerbaijan) is located on the territory of the housing area called Royal House or Stonepay. TISA hosts students from 40 countries. BP participates on the TISA Board of Governors.


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The company meets educational costs for age-qualified children as follows:

Half of pre-school fees from the age of 3 years.All of school fees from Year 1 (or age 4) of formal education up to the age 19.

The study year at TISA normally starts in August and ends in the following June. Class sizes range from 10-20, allowing for significant personal attention. A teaching assistant supports each primary class.

More information on TISA is available at www.tisa.az

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Safety/SecurityBP provides a secure working environment by protecting its people, assets and operations against risk of injury, loss or damage from criminal, hostile or malicious acts.Crime levels in Baku are generally low, take sensible precautions: be vigilant, avoid showing large sums of money in public and don’t walk alone at night in dark and unlit streets.You can drive in Azerbaijan using a licence issued by an EU country or by using an International Driving Licence. Drink driving laws are strict and there is a zero limit on drinking alcohol and driving.

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Medical Support and Services in AzerbaijanExpats will be provided with a membership card for International SOS which is the medical centre in Baku.Medical and dental insurance cover will be provided through CIGNA.

TransportationExpatriates on assignment in Azerbaijan are provided with a vehicle for the duration of their role. Insurance is provided for the car and for any authorized drivers. Drivers are sourced by expatriates and paid for by the company. The majority of

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expatriates chose to have a personal driver as driving tends to be very different from their home country.

Recreation and expatriate activitiesThe expatriate community in Baku is very social. This ranges from taking part in sporting activities (both adults and children) to formal balls, fundraising activities to informal get together.

Annual membership at one of the recreation centers in Baku is provided for expatriate employees and accompanying dependants. There are also other activities to get involved in such as the Baku Bicycle Club, the BP Social Club, crafts, riding, bridge, gyms, tennis, squash and rugby.


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There are activities for children, including ten pin bowling, summer wild camping, swim team, climbing wall, golf simulator, kids judo, ballet, gymnastics, ballet and music tuition.

Language TrainingOne-on-one lessons in the Azerbaijan language (up to 12 hours a month) is provided to expatriate employees and their accompanying spouse or partner.

Cultural TrainingPrior to relocation to Azerbaijan, BP provides cultural trainingto future expatriates and their accompanying family members in order to increase awareness of the country’s culture, people, traditions and other facets of Azerbaijani life.

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AZERBAIJANİnformationHandbook

http://www.azerbaijan.az – General Information about Azerbaijan and its history and economy and culture.

http://bakucitylife.com – a leisure and entertainment guide to Baku.

Useful Links about Azerbaijan and Baku


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BP Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey region

Website: www.bp.com/caspian

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