Turkey's Energy Minister says Nabucco not obligatory

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkish Energy Minister said "what is important is to gain natural gas, it is not obligatory through Nabucco pipeline." Taner Yildiz talked of prices of fuel in a meeting in Istanbul and underlined the importance of natural gas security.



Yildiz attended the 3rd International Natural Gas Symposium in Istanbul. Turkey participated in the meeting as an observer country.



He said that the global economic crisis seriously affected energy sector. Yildiz added that energy and natural gas sectors should not slow down due to the crisis. He said that international money should be canalized to proper projects.



Yıldız also said the talks on Nabucco pipeline were underwway.



"Turkey will maintain natural gas security, through Nabucco pipeline or another one with a source country deal. Turkey's energy security is important as much as Europe's one," Yıldız said.



Nabucco is planned to be an alternative route to transport gas from Turkey to Austria through Bulgaria, Romania, and Hungary. It is also an alternative source to the Russian supply. Construction of the 3,300-km pipeline is scheduled to start in 2011 and first deliveries are expected in 2014. The project is expected to cost around 7.9 billion Euros.



Turkey wants 15 percent share from natural gas to be carried through the Nabucco pipeline for its own use, not to sell it. Turkey is on the main route of Nabucco project, World Bulletin reported.