GDF SUEZ PLANS TO JOIN NABUCCO PROJECT
PanARMENIAN.Net
16.10.2009 12:04 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ GdF Suez French energy company is ready to consider
the possibility of making long-term investments in Nabucco project,
stopping discussions over participation in South Stream, BFM.ru quotes
GdF Suez President Gérard Mestrallet as saying.
"Political difficulties are overcome, and that enables us to revise our
approach to making long-term investments in the project." Mestrallet
said, commenting on country’s readiness to join Nabucco.
"As far as South Stream is concerned, there no need to make investments
there. We can’t be present everywhere," Mestrallet stated firmly.
Thus, GdF Suez declares of its intention to join Nabucco, a 3.3
km. gas main connecting Central Asia with EU countries via Azerbaijan
and Turkey (passing round Russia).
French company considered such possibility two years ago, however
political circumstances prevented realization of its plans. After
French Parliament’s recognition of Armenia Genocide in 2008,
Turkey imposed a secret veto on French company’s participation
in Nabucco. Thereafter, GdF Suez was interested in South Stream,
a project realized by Gazprom and Italian Eni.
Komersant refers to the recently signed memorandum between Armenia
and Turkey. Besides, French President Nicola Sarcozi last week met
with his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul and expressed hope that
his country would soon be able to join the project.
International GmbH, operator Nabucco Gas Pipeline, also expressed
support to French company’s initiative. "We welcome French people’s
interest in our project. Nabucco will be open for a seventh partner,
and that may also receive shareholders’ support in case of having
significant benefits." However, GdF Suez representative said that
company is not conducting negotiations for now.