U.S planning gas transit to Europe bypassing Russia

PanARMENIAN.Net - A U.S. official said that a deal may soon be sealed allowing natural gas from ex-Soviet nations to reach western Europe bypassing Russian territory.

 

Boyden Gray, the U.S. special envoy for Eurasian energy issues, told reporters in Rome that an agreement on a pipeline could be completed in as soon as six months.

 

"I think there will be an understanding for transit through Turkey for a pipeline," Gray said, without elaborating. "Completely firm details and shovels underground no, but the outlines of a deal, yes," he added, the AP reports.



The Nabucco pipeline is a planned natural gas pipeline that will transport natural gas from Turkey to Austria, via Bulgaria, Romania, and Hungary.



The pipeline will run from Erzurum in Turkey to Baumgarten an der March in Austria with total length of 3,300 kilometres (2,050 mi). It will be connected near Erzurum with the Tabriz-Erzurum pipeline, and with the South Caucasus Pipeline, connecting Nabucco Pipeline with the planned Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline.



Polish gas company PGNiG is studying the possibility of building a link to Poland with the Nabucco gas pipeline.



In early years after completion the deliveries are expected to be between 4.5 and 13 billion cubic meters (bcm) per annum.



Construction of pipeline is expected to begin in 2010 and is planned to be finished in 2013. It estimated to cost around €7.9 billion. The company leading the project is OMV from Austria.