Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 3 / Trend /
The European Parliament suggests adding Russia to the Nabucco project, RIA Novosti reported. According to a European diplomatic source in Brussels, the proposal was formulated in a report on EU energy policy developed by European Parliament. The report will be put to a vote at the plenary session of the assembly on Feb. 4.
The report questioned the Caspian littoral states' readiness to fill the Nabucco gas pipeline. The experts believe it is inappropriate to consider the pipeline as a competitor to the Russian South Stream gas pipeline project. According to European media outlets, the European Commission opposes Russia's joining Nabucco. The commission believes Russia's accession to the project will only increase EU energy dependence on the country. According to the report of Nabucco Gas Pipeline International posted on its official Web site, Russian gas delivered to Turkey via the Blue Stream gas pipeline can be used to fill Nabucco.
Blue Stream is designed to supply Russian natural gas to Turkey via the Black Sea, bypassing third countries. Blue Stream complements the gas corridor from Russia to Turkey, which passes through Ukraine, Moldova, Romania and Bulgaria.
The Nabucco project worth 7.9 billion euro will deliver Azerbaijani and Central Asian gas to the EU. Its maximum capacity will be 31 billion cubic meters per year.
Nabucco shareholders are the Austrian OMV, Hungarian MOL, Bulgarian Bulgargaz, Romanian Transgaz, Turkish Botas and German RWE with 16.7 percent each. Construction of the pipeline is expected to commence in 2011. First gas supplied will be delivered in 2014.