Brussels, 25/03/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 25 March, the European Commission immediately adjusted its aim further to declarations in the press by European Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger, whose statements caused some confusion regarding the timetable for implementation of the Nabucco gas pipeline project. The pipeline which is to carry gas from central Asia to the Community market is to become operational in 2014, reaching full capacity in 2018. In an interview with the daily, Süddeutsche Zeitung, of 24 March, Oettinger said he hoped a final decision would be reached so that construction of the gas pipeline could begin in 2010, with the likelihood of first effective gas deliveries in 2018. “The chances of seeing the gas pipeline completed have considerably increased over the last six months and this EU prestige project has about a 65% chance of succeeding”, Oettinger had added. The commissioner is banking on there being an international conference - perhaps in July, in Ankara - so that the last obstacles may be raised. Such a conference would bring together stakeholders in the project such as supplier countries, transit countries, banks and energy companies - OMV of Austria, RWE of Germany, MOL of Hungary, Transgaz of Hungary, Bulgargaz of Bulgaria and Botas of Turkey. On Thursday, the commissioner's spokesperson, Marlene Holzer, confirmed corrections brought to the remarks made by the services of RWE. Work on Nabucco is still foreseen for end 2011. The gas pipeline will first of all link Turkey and Austria, to be operational in 2014. It will be extended in 2016 and its capacity will be gradually increased to 31 billion cubic metres in 2018. The cost of building the Nabucco project is estimated at nearly €8 billion, but the line it will take has not yet been finally decided. (E.H./transl.jl)