Azerbaijan, Baku, Sept. 15 / Trend , E.Ismayilov/
Iran considers the planned Nabucco gas pipeline an efficient route to export its own gas to Europe, however, for the country, it is not the only option, said Hassan Torbachi, representative of the National Iranian Gas Company.
"Right now we're considering staying in Nabucco, and [so on] how to join this pipeline," Torbachi said in Baku on Sept. 15. "If the project envisages Iran's joining [the Nabucco], then we will take it positively. If not, we will seek other versions."
He said one of the versions to transport the Iranian gas to Europe will be the Persian pipeline, which will run through Turkey.
"Iran has enough gas reserves to meet the growing gas demand in Europe through an existing pipeline system," said Torbachi.
According to BP, the proven gas reserves of Iran amounted to 29.61 trillion cubic meters as for Jan. 1, 2008.
The Nabucco project worth 7.9 billion euro will deliver Azerbaijani and Central Asian gas to the EU. Construction of the pipeline is expected to begin in 2011 and the first supplies - in 2014. 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 16.67 percent each. The Nabucco Gas Pipeline International will invest 30 percent of the project on basis of its share. The remaining 70 percent will be provided by international institutions.
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