October 11, 2008

Nabucco pipeline to deliver gas to Europe by 2013

Reuters cited Mr Reinhard Mitschek the project's managing director of Nabucco as saying that Nabucco natural gas pipeline project aimed at diversifying natural gas supplies to Europe, will deliver its first gas to Europe by 2013.

He said that gas from Iran could be carried through the Nabucco pipeline if there was sufficient demand, despite protests from the United States. He added that "If the demand comes from European buyers, we will bring Iranian gas to Europe through the Nabucco."

The reported added that EUR 4.6 billion pipeline is expected to carry 21 billion cubic meters annually from the Caspian region to European consumers in order to lessen Europe's dependence on Russian gas. But finding supplies in the Caspian region have been problematic and the United States has protested calls from Turkey for Iranian supplies to be included in the 3,300 kilometers pipeline.