EU Representative In Baku Calls For Nabucco Readjustment

The head of the EU representation in Azerbaijan, Roland Cobia, told reporters last week after talks with the Azeri government that a series of new alternative pipeline projects are being discussed by the Shah Deniz consortium, with regard to exporting 10 bcm/year of gas to Europe beginning in 2017-18. Confirming that Nabucco was still in the bidding for Shah Deniz Stage 2 gas (MEES, 5 March), he said that “the talks aim to change the conception of the project [Nabucco]. There are many proposals. Naturally, the proposals change the game and it means that old proposals must conform to the new scenarios.” He added, in an indirect reference to BP’s rival South East Europe Pipeline (SEEP) proposal, that even if Nabucco was dropped, “the agreements around it would be used. It’s planned to transport a large amount of gas to Europe. There are several proposals to transport Shah Deniz gas to Europe on the table and all of them are being considered.”

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