pipeline «Nabucco» (Nabucco) - is a pipe length of 3.3 thousand kilometers.With it you can carry out the delivery of fuel from Azerbaijan and Central Asia to EU countries."Nabucco" - gas pipeline, which was supposed to supply primarily Germany and Austria.Its name comes from the work of the same name of the famous composer Giuseppe Verdi.The main theme of his opera is the release, and what was supposed to contribute to the new highway fuel supplies to Europe.
History Project
began developing a new line began in February 2002 under the name of "Nabucco".The pipeline was initially the subject of negotiations between the two companies: the Austrian OMV and the Turkish BOTAS.Later they were joined by four more: Hungarian, German, Bulgarian and Romanian.Together they signed a protocol on their intentions.In late 2003, after the calculation of the necessary expenses European Commission has provided a grant of 50% of the total.After the initial development of the project partners have signed a definitive agreement.In June 2008, through a gas pipeline "Nabucco" was made the first delivery of fuel from Azerbaijan to Bulgaria.
strategic importance of the project
winter of 2009, the EU has once again become aware of their disastrous energy dependence on Russia.As a result of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, the people of the European countries were left without heat in their homes.In early 2010, in Budapest summit it was the main issue of which was "Nabucco".Its main objective was to diversify the flow of fuel.In July, a special intergovernmental agreement was signed by five prime ministers.
also stakeholders in the project are the European Union represented by its President M. Barroso and Energy Commissioner A. Pebalgsa and the United States were Envoy for Eurasian Energy R. Morningsar and Minister of Foreign Affairs Committee, Senator Lugar.Hungary ratified the agreement twentieth October 2009, Bulgaria - 3.02.2010, Turkey - 4.03.2010.The gas pipeline "Nabucco" has received additional support to the publication of additional intergovernmental agreement between all involved in it states.
Current state
In May 2012, a consortium of Shah Deniz made a new offer - "Nabucco West".Even the turn of the year an agreement was signed for financing it.According to it, the Shah Deniz consortium will pay 50% of the cost of a new project and a transit country - the remaining half.In 2013, a memorandum was signed, but in the summer it was announced that the investments will be made in the Trans Adriatic Pipeline.Executive Director of Austrian OMV company said that the project is suspended.Therefore, the gas pipeline "Nabucco" now lost its strategic importance, but recently, Bulgaria and Azerbaijan once again asked the EU on its revival.What would happen - time will tell.
gas pipeline "Nabucco": the scheme
Planned length of the route is 3893 kilometers.He was supposed to start at Ahiboze (Turkey) and end in the vault Baumgarten (Austria).He also would have passed through three countries: Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary.But in fact not Ahiboze was to begin gas pipeline "Nabucco".Route project also includes Georgia and Iraq.In Ahiboze he had to be connected to it with their trunks.Modified "Nabucco West" was a more modest project and had to start on the Turkish-Bulgarian border.Its estimated length is 1329 kilometers.Short pipeline had to pass through the territory of four countries: Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Austria.The Polish company PGNiG in their time exploring the possibility of connecting the state to the "Nabucco".
Specifications
assumed that the pipeline "Nabucco West" will not be taxed for 25 years since its launch.Its capacity should reach 10 billion cubic meters per year.Half of transported gas was supplied to the countries that do not participate directly in the project.If there is demand for bandwidth could be raised by an additional 13 billion cubic meters.
Construction
"Nabucco" project is part of the development of the Trans-European Energy Networks, and its development is done with money from a grant.When he was transformed, all the engineering work had to be continued.Construction was planned to begin in 2013."Nabucco" was supposed to start fully operational by 2017. But the consortium "Shah-Deniz" chose to fund other projects, so long as it remains frozen.
Financing
cost of the project "Nabucco" has never been disclosed, but in 2012 R. Mitschek said that it is much less than the 7.9 billion euros.The final settlement is expected by the end of 2013.Today, Bulgaria and Azerbaijan conduct special studies to prove the profitability of the construction of the pipeline.
sources filling the pipeline
basis of the project - is already built highway Baku - Tbilisi.There also had to be carried supplies from Central Asia, especially from Turkmenistan.There was a proposal to build a gas pipeline through Armenia, but it caused a very negative reaction in Azerbaijan itself.Poland was planning to make a spin-off from "Nabucco" on its territory through Slovakia.
originally planned through the pipeline to transport oil from Iran, but there is the conflict began.At the summit in Budapest, the country has not been provided.The only source of content that was in 2013, was in Azerbaijan - Shah Deniz.But now it draws from reserves Caspian gas pipeline.Managing Director of "Nabucco" R. Mitschek said possible accession of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Egypt and even Russia.
Opportunities and Challenges
From the outset, the development of the project implementation of "Nabucco" has been associated with a number of difficulties.Sources of supply are determined to a maximum of a quarter of the estimated power.This makes it unprofitable.The situation is complicated by the uncertain status of the Caspian Sea, next to which Russian troops are based.After a five-day war suitability of Georgia as a transit State also dropped significantly, and the involvement of Armenia in the project will lead to a negative reaction in Azerbaijan.Many problems related to the participation of Turkey.
Today "Nabucco" is a pipe dream, and its geopolitical importance greatly decreased.Most of the major European countries, and especially Russia, are not interested in spending a lot of money on it.
