Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 24 / Trend A.Badalova, A.Taghiyeva /
Nabucco gas pipeline, which is designed to transport gas from the Caspian region and Middle East, is a very important project for Iraq's economy, spokesman for the Iraqi Oil Ministry Asym Jihad told Trend on Friday.
"Iraq's officials have repeatedly stated that the country is interested in participation in this project," Jihad said.
Recently the official representative of Nabucco Gas Pipeline International GmbH said the project's consortium considers Northern Iraqi gas as an option to secure future gas supply to Europe. According to the Nabucco Gas Pipeline International GmbH spokesman, Christian Dolezal, Northern Iraq has huge potential as a gas producer.
Nabucco gas pipeline is one of the Southern Gas Corridor projects. Gas produced during the second stage of Azerbaijani Shah Deniz gas condensate field development is to be the main source for the Nabucco project.
Earlier Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said in an exclusive interview with Trend that Iraq is very interested in participating in Nabucco project. He noted Iraq is able to propose its resources for this strategic project, which is of great importance for the country.
Jihad said the differences between the Iraqi government and the government of Kurdistan's regional administration will not affect the export of Iraqi gas. When the concrete negotiations on Iraqi gas supply via Nabucco start the parties will be able to reach common ground.
However, Jihad said that Iraq plans to begin supplying no earlier than 2015-2017.
He also noted on the current stage the infrastructure for Iraqi gas export is being prepared, and the intensive works on gas field exploring is being carried out.
The construction of Nabucco pipeline with maximum capacity of 31 billion cubic meters is planned to start in 2013 and its first supplies are scheduled for 2017.
The project's partners include Bulgarian Energy Holding, Romanian Transgaz, Turkish Botas, Austrian OMV, German RWE and Hungary's FGSZ.