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VIENNA – Bulgaria is keen on becoming the first operational link in Nabucco gas pipeline, Sofia News Agency reports.
The country’s economy minister, Mr. Traikov told the meeting on Nabucco of the senior oil and gas officials in Vienna that a Bulgaria-Turkey natural gas pipeline might become the first operational section of gas pipeline, designed to bring Caspian gas to European markets via Turkey, bypassing Russia.
Bulgarian minister held a meeting with the senior management of the Austrian company OMV AG, one of the main partners in the Nabucco project, as well as with the CEO of the Nabucco Gas Pipeline International company, Reinhard Mitschek in Vienna Tuesday.
Traikov was visiting Vienna as a member of the delegation led by Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov.
During his talks with OMV and the Nabucco company, he urged boosting efforts on building a natural gas pipeline linking Bulgaria with Turkey, which he said may later become a part of the Nabucco pipeline.
"The construction of Bulgarian-Turkish pipeline will practically become a start of the Nabucco project which is designed to provide Bulgaria and the whole Europe with an access to the gas resources of the Caspian Region and the Middle East," Traikov said.
The Austrian experts have presented the work of the Central European Gas Hub (CEGH), which is 80% owned by OMV, and discussed with the Mr. Traikov opportunities of setting up a similar natural gas trade platform in Bulgaria.
According to Traikov, Austrian experience is very important for Bulgaria, which is seeking to expand its own gas storage facilities.
The Bulgarian Minister’s talks with at the Austrian Industry Federation focused on Austrian investments, as the country is the largest foreign investor in Bulgaria during the last decade.
"The bilateral dialogue has demonstrated that Bulgaria has a real opportunity to increase its weight in Europe, thanks to its industrial potential, at a time when Europe is more and more being de-industrialized," said the statement by the Bulgarian Economy Ministry.
Nabucco gas pipeline project is worth €7.9 billion. Construction of gas pipeline is planned to be launched in 2011, the first supplies - in 2014. Maximal capacity of the pipeline will hit 31 billion cubic meters per year.
Construction of the Nabucco pipeline will be implemented in two main phases. The first phase of construction (2011) includes laying a new pipeline length of 2,000 kilometers, starting at the Turkish border and ending in Austria's Baumgarten. The second phase (2014-2015 year) includes the construction of the remainder of the pipeline on the border between Turkey and Georgia, as well as Turkey and Iraq.
Construction of the first section of Nabucco length of 2.730 kilometers will begin in the southern part of Ankara (Turkey) and will continue in the western direction to the Bulgarian border through Central Anatolia and the Marmara Sea. 75 percent of the route will pass through existing pipelines.
Participants of the project are Austrian OMV, Hungarian MOL, Bulgarian Bulgargaz, Romanian Transgaz, Turkish Botas and German RWE companies. Each of participants has equal share to the amount of 16.67 percent. Nabucco Gas Pipeline International shareholders will invest 30 percent of total cost of the project, the rest 70 percent will be paid owing to loans.