international.news.bg, Bulgaria
France is the Sixth Partner in Nabucco
Updated on: 15.09.2007, 15:07
Published on: 15.09.2007, 14:59
Author: Olga Yoncheva
The French state company Gaz de France joins the project with
Bulgarian participation for the trans-Caspian gas pipeline `Nabucco’,
informed RIA Novosti.
The French president Nicolas Sarkozy who is on official visit to
Hungary has announced the news to the journalists.
The information confirmed by the deputy general director of Gaz de
France Jean-Marie Doje: `I will not disclose a big secret if I say
that GDF intends to take part in `Nabucco’ as a partner. We can make a
substantial contribution’.
The gas pipeline Nabucco will connect Europe to Central Asia bypassing
Russia.
The contract for the beginning of the construction of the gas pipeline
was signed on 25 June 2007 by the EU energy commissioner Andris
Piebalgs and the ministers of energy of Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania,
Hungary and Austria.
The overall price of the project is estimated at $ 5.8 bn. The
pipeline’s length will be 3 330km.
The earliest possible date for the gas to start being supplied through
the planned route is 2012. The gas will be supplied by Turkmenistan,
Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Russia. The western part of the chief
pipeline will pass through Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary to reach
Austria.
A southern branch, which to lead to Iraq, the Persian gulf countries
and maybe Iran can also be included in the gas pipeline.
Many countries lobbied for participation in the project. France’s
application was disputable because of controversies with Turkey about
the Armenian genocide during the First World War.
The Turkish would have enjoyed more the participation of
Azerbaijan. The minister of energy of the Caucus country explained
firmly to Reuters the advantages of the Azerbaijan’s application. But
the French prevailed.