Azerbaijan, Baku, 18 August / Trend / The Nabucco Gas Pipeline International, established to manage Nabucco, undertook an actual market survey amongst potential shippers for filling up the pipeline.
The company reported that Nabucco capacities are more than 100 Percent overbooked by potential shippers from day one in 2013 on a long term basis, when it will be put into operation due to strong request for transport of natural gas from various gas sources in Central Asia and Middle Eeast
Reinhard Mitschek, Managing Director of Nabucco Gas Pipeline International GmbH stated: "This result is a strong positive signal from the European gas market and potential shippers to Nabucco.
The company's press release says that so far Nabucco Gas Pipeline International GmbH has already signed various Letters of Interests with potential shippers.
Nabucco costing $12.4bln is expected to supply gas from Azerbaijan and Central Asia to EU countries since 2013. OMV, MOL (Hungary), Botas (Turkey), Bulgargaz (Bulgaria), Transgaz (Romania) and German RWE are the shareholders of the project, each owing16.67%. Largest energy company Gaz de France is interested in purchasing a part of the gas to be transported via Nabucco.
In 2007 the need for the gas amongst 27 countries of the European Union was 500bln cu.m, with 300bln cu.m being imported and 200bln produced in Europe itself. Over the next 10-15 years, the total volume of gas consumption in Europe will grow up to 700bln cu.m per year, and production will fall to 100bln cu.m.