Brussels, 26/06/2013 (Agence Europe) - The Shah Deniz II consortium has reportedly rejected the Nabucco pipeline proposal in favour of the Trans-Adriatic pipeline to transport Azeri gas to the EU.
Even before the official announcement is made on 28 June, the Austrian energy company OMV (a shareholder in the Nabucco consortium) extinguished any suspense on Wednesday 26 June - Nabucco-West has been rejected by operators of the Shah Deniz II gas field in Azerbaijan in favour of the Trans-Adriatic pipeline (TAP). In Athens on Wednesday, a delegation from the consortium that exploits the Azeri gas field reportedly informed Greece's Prime Minister Antonis Samaras directly of the choice for TAP - which will cross Greece.
Although shortened since Turkey built its own Trans-Anatolian gas pipeline (TANAP), and less expensive that initially, Nabucco - the project supported by shareholding energy groups that are all members of the EU (OMV from Austria, RWE from Germany, MOL from Hungary, Transgaz from Romania, Botas from Turkey and GDF Suez from France) and by the European Commission - has not therefore managed to convince the Shah Deniz II shareholders.
Led by BP from the United Kingdom, Soccar from Azerbaijan, Statoil from Norway and Total from France, Shah Deniz II has therefore stated its preference for the project led by Statoil with Axpo from Switzerland and E.ON from Germany.
On Wednesday, the European Commission did not want to comment before the official announcement on 28 June. It simply repeated its believe in using the two projects for supply to the EU. (EH/transl.fl)