Nabucco Pipeline

Nabucco Pipeline

The Nabucco-West pipeline (also referred to as the Turkey–Austria gas pipeline) is a proposed natural gas pipeline from Turkey-Bulgaria border to Austria. It is a modification of the original Nabucco Pipeline project which was to run from Erzurum in Turkey to Baumgarten an der March in Austria. The aim of the Nabucco pipeline is to diversify the natural gas suppliers and delivery routes for Europe, thus reducing European dependence on Russian energy. The original project was backed by several European Union member states and by the United States, and was seen as a rival to the South Stream pipeline project. The main supplier was expected to be Iraq, with potential supplies from Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Egypt. The main supply for the Nabucco West would be Shah Deniz gas through the proposed Trans-Anatolian gas pipeline (TANAP).

The project is being developed by a consortium of six companies. Preparations started in 2002 and the intergovernmental agreement between Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary and Austria was signed on 13 July 2009. After an announcement of the construction of TANAP, the consortium has submitted the Nabucco-West project. Construction of Nabucco-West depends on the gas export route decision by the Shah Deniz consortium which is expected by 30 June 2013. If built, Nabucco-West is expected to be operational by 2017.