Azerbaijan, Baku, May 26 / Trend A. Badalova /
The Nabucco pipeline venture, planned to carry natural gas from the Caspian Sea to Europe, got more than 60 prequalification bids from companies to supply about 3.5 billion euros ($4.3 billion) in pipes, Bloomberg said.
"We got more than we expected and the applicants are practically the most important pipe suppliers in the world," Vlad Pavlovschi, general manager of Nabucco Gas Pipeline Romania SRL, said today in a telephone interview from Vienna. The applications are being evaluated by an independent auditor, he said.
The consortium announced about the beginning of the pre-qualification tender for the supply of durable goods (pipes, valves) for the construction of Nabucco pipeline in April. The total cost of the tender package is 3.5 billion euros. Acceptance of applications will be completed May 17.
Previously, German company Europipe voiced its intention to participate in the tender. It participates as a supplier of pipes in the Russian project of Nord Stream pipeline, for which it will provide 65 percent of supply of pipes.
Nabucco gas pipeline project worth €7.9 billion envisages gas supply from the Caspian region to EU countries. Participants of the project are Austrian OMV, Hungarian MOL, Bulgarian Bulgargaz, Romanian Transgaz, Turkish Botas and German RWE companies. Each of participants has equal share to the amount of 16.67 percent.