Azeri Minister: Nabucco Project Stalling
Azerbaijani Energy Minister Natig Aliyev has said the Nabucco project seeking to bring Caspian and Central Asian gas to Europe “is a project that is being talked about much but one that very few people are working to implement”.
In an interview with Ukrainian government newspaper Uryadovy Kuryer, Aliyev explained this by unresolved issues of financing and long-term gas supplies.
“The issue of Turkmenistan and Iraq’s participation [in the project] is always raised,” the minister said. “The ongoing geo-political hustle around these issues stands in the way. I think that if more technicians and financiers, not politicians, are drawn to this process, we can move forward faster.”
The Nabucco pipeline project aims to decrease the European Union’s dependence on Russian imports by bringing Caspian gas to a hub in Austria via the Balkans. The gas would be shipped to Europe via Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary. Azerbaijan is one of the potential suppliers for the Nabucco pipeline.
Aliyev said that as a major gas producer, Azerbaijan is interested in the construction of new gas pipelines and markets and is ready to participate in the Nabucco project in any shape or form.
According to him, with the current production level of 28.5 billion cubic meters of gas per year, Azerbaijan is consuming only 10-11bn cubic meters of the volume, while the rest is exported.
Aliyev said that just three to four years ago Azerbaijan was importing gas from Russia, but is currently exporting it to its northern neighbor. Thus, as early as next year gas exports to Russia will amount to 2bn cubic meters, and a proposal has been made to increase the volume to 5bn cubic meters. Azerbaijan also exports 1bn cubic meters of gas to Iran and Georgia each, and Turkey imports 6bn cubic meters. Azerbaijani gas is re-exported to Greece as well.
The minister said the South Caucasus republic is also ready to supply gas to Syria, Bulgaria, Romania, Albania, and Italy, “but this requires gas pipelines, reliable and safe transport corridors”.
Source: Azernews