Italy says not opposed to Russian rival pipeline
The Italian government is not opposed to the
Western-backed Nabucco pipeline project seeking to deliver
Azerbaijani and Central Asian gas to European markets by-passing
Russia, Foreign Minister Franco Frattini has said.
``Italy is not opposed to Nabucco, however, sources of gas should be found for the pipeline first,`` Frattini told the local La Stampa newspaper.
The 3,300-kilometer Nabucco pipeline - which will run from eastern Turkey to the Austrian capital Vienna close to the Baumgarten gas hub - is expected to come online in 2014. When fully operational, it could carry 31 billion cubic meters of gas annually and supply between 5-10 percent of the EU`s projected gas demand in 2020. Azerbaijan, Iraq and Egypt are seen as the main suppliers for Nabucco.
Frattini pointed out, further, that Rome has passed a decision to join rival Russian project South Stream, considering that enough gas is available to fill this pipeline and the project`s implementation is possible in the near future.
However, Italy`s Industry Minister Claudio Scajola told La Stampa that his country should reduce its dependence on Russian gas and, overall, should avoid reliance on imported hydrocarbons.
The minister said that, on account of reducing deliveries of Russian gas, Italy should increase imports from Algeria and Libya.
Scajola said Russian gas currently meets 30% of Italy`s demand for energy resources. According to him, by 2020, the Italian government is looking to meet 25% of domestic demand by renewable sources of energy, 25% more by atomic energy and 50% by conventional sources.
``Italy is not opposed to Nabucco, however, sources of gas should be found for the pipeline first,`` Frattini told the local La Stampa newspaper.
The 3,300-kilometer Nabucco pipeline - which will run from eastern Turkey to the Austrian capital Vienna close to the Baumgarten gas hub - is expected to come online in 2014. When fully operational, it could carry 31 billion cubic meters of gas annually and supply between 5-10 percent of the EU`s projected gas demand in 2020. Azerbaijan, Iraq and Egypt are seen as the main suppliers for Nabucco.
Frattini pointed out, further, that Rome has passed a decision to join rival Russian project South Stream, considering that enough gas is available to fill this pipeline and the project`s implementation is possible in the near future.
However, Italy`s Industry Minister Claudio Scajola told La Stampa that his country should reduce its dependence on Russian gas and, overall, should avoid reliance on imported hydrocarbons.
The minister said that, on account of reducing deliveries of Russian gas, Italy should increase imports from Algeria and Libya.
Scajola said Russian gas currently meets 30% of Italy`s demand for energy resources. According to him, by 2020, the Italian government is looking to meet 25% of domestic demand by renewable sources of energy, 25% more by atomic energy and 50% by conventional sources.
Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention.
Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis.
By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more.
Subscribe
You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper
Thank you!