Natig Aliyev, Azerbaijan's Minister of Industry and Energy, says "Azerbaijan has not refused Nabucco project" September 9, 2008 On-going series: Crisis in the Caucasus - 2008 The Georgian / Russian Conflict and Its Impact on Azerbaijan Note: Nabucco refers to a planned natural gas pipeline that will transport natural gas from Turkey to Austria, via Bulgaria, Romania, and Hungary. It will run from Erzurum in Turkey to Baumgarten an der March, a major natural gas hub in Austria. This pipeline is a diversion from the current methods of importing natural gas solely from Russia which exposes EC to dependance and insecurity of the Kremlin practices. The project is backed by the European Union and the United States. The plan is to use some of Azerbaijan's gas transported to Erzurum, via the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum (BTE) gas pipeline. Natig Aliyev, Azerbaijan's Minister of Industry and Energy told Azerbaijani journalists that Azerbaijan has not refused Nabucco project. "This is a real project and has future," he said, according to APA (Azerbaijan Press Association). He said that Nabucco project had become politicized. "Therefore, there are some difficulties in determining sources for supplying this pipeline with hydrocarbon resources. That's why the fate of the project is in question. Hydrocarbon resources of Azerbaijan and Central Asia are the main sources for Nabucco. Azerbaijan cannot supply this project only by its own resources," he said. Natig Aliyev said discussions were being held on Nabucco and added that some issues related to the construction of the pipeline remained open and the issue was being discussed by the sides. http://en.apa.az/news.php?id=88304 Back to Calendar of Events - Index Back to Crisis in the Caucasus - Index AI Home Page | Magazine Choice | Topics | Store | Contact us