Brussels, 16/04/2010 (Agence Europe) - After Turkmenistan on Wednesday, European Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger travelled to Azerbaijan on Thursday 15 April, where he met Azeri Energy Minister Natik Aliev. The commissioner spoke to Aliev of the key role which the EU sees Azerbaijan playing in the realisation of the pan-European Nabucco gas pipeline project, both in terms of gas transit and supplies. Azerbaijan can supply the major part of the gas for Nabucco, though not all since Baku has commitments on the supply of gas to its neighbouring countries, Oettinger acknowledged. He highlighted the importance of the other gas suppliers, including Turkmenistan, for Nabucco, though he showed some scepticism over the involvement of Iraqi and Iranian gas at this point. Oettinger announced that a decision on Nabucco would be taken by the end of 2010. To this end, the European Commission intends to hold an international conference on Nabucco in the autumn with all the countries concerned taking part. Confirming his country's interest in Nabucco, Aliev nevertheless stressed that the commercial, economic and environmental risks of the project had to be weighed up and that gas supply sources had to be set out clearly and unequivocally, long-term agreements on gas supply had to be signed and transit arrangements had to be negotiated. He also denied claims that his country would not have enough gas to supply Nabucco. Azerbaijan has up to 2,200 billion cubic metres of exploitable gas reserves, with annual extraction put at 23.5 billion cubic metres. (E.H./transl.rt)