Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan.31 / Trend A.Badalova/
The contract with the international testing service provider TÜV Rheinland, for auditing general contractors wishing to pre-qualify for the construction of the Nabucco pipeline has been extended, Nabucco Gas Pipeline International GmbH reported on Tuesday.
The new contract awarded to the experts at TÜV Rheinland covers the auditing of EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) contractors.
TÜV Rheinland will also assist in the formulation of the prequalification documents in an advisory capacity.
Nabucco gas pipeline is one of the Southern Gas Corridor projects designed to transport gas from the Caspian region and Middle East to the European countries.
Gas that will be produced within the second phase of the development of Azerbaijani Shah Deniz field is considered as the main source for the project.
Construction of the Nabucco project is planned to start in 2013 and the first supplies are scheduled for 2017. The total length of the pipeline is 3,900 kilometers and a maximum capacity of the pipeline will be 31 billion cubic meters per year.
On Oct. 1, Nabucco with the other pipeline projects (TAP, ITGI) submitted their final proposals to the Azerbaijani side, which will review them in accordance with the previously announced criteria. The decision on the preferable transportation route is expected to be made in the first quarter of 2012.