Azerbaijan, Baku, April 12 / Trend A.Badalova/
Nabucco Gas Pipeline International GmbH (NIC) submitted the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report for the 733 kilometer "Sivas-Iraqi (Silopi) section" in Turkey to the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization, NIC reported on Thursday.
The submitted EIA Report was prepared in accordance with the format determined by the ministry in its decision from January, 2011.
According to the statement, the preparation of the EIA report includes the execution of intensive field studies along the entire pipeline route by highly experienced environmental and technical experts, as well as consultation with the public and administrative bodies to gather all the information required for the relevant sections.
The report will also be subject to public consultation by the Governors of Sivas, Malatya, Adiyaman, Sanliurfa, Mardin and Sirnak cities, which are localities on the pipeline route.
According to the Managing Director of Nabucco Gas Pipeline International Gmb Reinhard Mitschek, the submission of the EIA Report is an important step forward in the approval process and realization of the project.
Nabucco gas pipeline is one of the Southern Gas Corridor projects, whiuch is designed to transport gas from the Caspian region and Middle East to the European countries. The project's shareholders are Bulgarian Energy Holding, Romanian Transgaz, Turkish Botas, Austrian OMV, German RWE and Hungary's FGSZ.
Gas to be produced within the second phase of Azerbaijani Shah Deniz field development is considered as the main source for Nabucco.
The project's original concept envisages the construction of the pipeline with the length at 3,900 kilometres from the Georgian-Turkish and Iraqi-Turkish borders to Baumgarten. The pipeline is expected to run through Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Austria.
Earlier Nabucco gas Pipeline Internation submitted to the Shah Deniz consortium new version of the project, which envisages the construction of the pipeline from the Turkish-Bulgarian border to the Austrian Baumgarten.
According to NIC statement, Nabucco aims to complete the Environmental Impact Assessment procedure for the "Ankara-Georgia Border section" shortly. Nabucco expects a positive decision on the EIA report for the "Sivas-Iraqi Border section" this Summer.