TURKEY’S ENERGY MINISTER SAYS NABUCCO NOT OBLIGATORY

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
10.06.2009 10:56 GMT+04:00

/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.

Yýldýz 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," Yýldýz 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.