Azerbaijan, Baku, Aug.24 / Trend U.Sadigova /
The ex-Advisor to the U.S Secretary of State on Political Affairs, Marc Grossman, considers that the Nabucco project, which will transport gas from the Caspian region and the Middle East to the EU, will not face difficulties being filled.
The statement from Iraq on its readiness to transport its gas through the pipeline suggests that the question of filling [Nabucco] will not cause any complications, Grossman told journalists at the Center for Strategic Studies in the presence of the Azerbaijani President on Aug. 24.
Iraq, along with Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan, is regarded as a potential supplier of gas for Nabucco. Previously, Iraq expressed its readiness to supply the pipeline with 15 billion cubic meters of gas per year.
According to BP on Jan.1, 2009, Azerbaijan's proven gas reserves amounted to 1.2 trillion cubic meters, Iraq's were 3.17 trillion cubic meters and Turkmenistan's were 7.94 trillion cubic meters.
Grossman mentioned the importance of the intergovernmental agreement on the Nabucco project, which was signed in Ankara in July. He believes that the pipeline is very important for world energy security.
Energy security will remain the principle question for the European market, Grossman said.
The Nabucco project, worth 7.9 billion Euro, will deliver Azerbaijani and Central Asian gas to the EU. Project capacity is 31 billion cubic meters of gas per year and construction is planned to be completed by 2014. Nabucco shareholders are the Austrian OMV, Hungarian MOL, Bulgarian Bulgargaz, Romanian Transgaz, Turkish Botas and German RWE with 16.67 percent each.
30 percent of the total project costs will be equally invested by the shareholders of Nabucco Gas Pipeline International. The remaining 70 percent will be paid by loans.
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