EU rules out Iranian gas for NABUCCO pipeline
The European Commission is not considering Iran as a supplier for
the NABUCCO pipeline that is planned to export Caspian gas to
Europe, the European Union`s spokesman for energy, Ferran
Tarradellas, has said.
In light of the EU`s emerging problems in finding vendors interested in using the pipeline, some European countries have raised the issue of Iran`s participation in the project.
Tarradellas emphasized that since Iran continues its nuclear program, an issue that has long caused tension between Tehran and the West, its gas cannot be pumped through the NABUCCO pipeline.
"We are mainly hopeful for gas from Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan," the European Commission official said.
Pierre Morel, the EU Special Representative for Central Asia, has said the 27-member bloc would take substantial steps to pave the way for the NABUCCO project.
He noted that August`s Russia-Georgia military conflict had necessitated intensifying preparations for the project`s implementation.
"The EU deems stepping up efforts regarding the NABUCCO consortium as pivotal, and the organization will take concrete steps in this regard in early 2009," Morel said.
He stressed that discussions held during Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev`s visit to Ashgabat on November 28-29 with the leaders of Turkmenistan and Turkey had increased Europe`s hopes for the construction of a pipeline that would transport Central Asia`s abundant natural gas resources to Western markets under the Caspian Sea.
The project, worth 8 billion euros, envisions supplies of Azerbaijani and Turkmen gas to European markets while bypassing Russia through a 3,300-kilometer pipeline traveling through Azerbaijan and Turkey to Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary and Austria. So far, only Azerbaijan has agreed to transport its gas via NABUCCO. Deliveries of gas from Kazakhstan and Iraq are possible in the future, as well. Six shareholders - German RWE, Turkish Botas company, Romanian Transgas, Bulgarian Bulgargas, Austrian OMV, and Hungarian MOL - hold equal stakes in the project.
Although construction of the pipeline was initially scheduled for 2009, the global financial downturn has delayed the plan. The conduit is to become operational in 2013.
In light of the EU`s emerging problems in finding vendors interested in using the pipeline, some European countries have raised the issue of Iran`s participation in the project.
Tarradellas emphasized that since Iran continues its nuclear program, an issue that has long caused tension between Tehran and the West, its gas cannot be pumped through the NABUCCO pipeline.
"We are mainly hopeful for gas from Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan," the European Commission official said.
Pierre Morel, the EU Special Representative for Central Asia, has said the 27-member bloc would take substantial steps to pave the way for the NABUCCO project.
He noted that August`s Russia-Georgia military conflict had necessitated intensifying preparations for the project`s implementation.
"The EU deems stepping up efforts regarding the NABUCCO consortium as pivotal, and the organization will take concrete steps in this regard in early 2009," Morel said.
He stressed that discussions held during Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev`s visit to Ashgabat on November 28-29 with the leaders of Turkmenistan and Turkey had increased Europe`s hopes for the construction of a pipeline that would transport Central Asia`s abundant natural gas resources to Western markets under the Caspian Sea.
The project, worth 8 billion euros, envisions supplies of Azerbaijani and Turkmen gas to European markets while bypassing Russia through a 3,300-kilometer pipeline traveling through Azerbaijan and Turkey to Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary and Austria. So far, only Azerbaijan has agreed to transport its gas via NABUCCO. Deliveries of gas from Kazakhstan and Iraq are possible in the future, as well. Six shareholders - German RWE, Turkish Botas company, Romanian Transgas, Bulgarian Bulgargas, Austrian OMV, and Hungarian MOL - hold equal stakes in the project.
Although construction of the pipeline was initially scheduled for 2009, the global financial downturn has delayed the plan. The conduit is to become operational in 2013.
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