South Stream pipeline years behind Nabucco, says envoy

http://www.bbj.hu/index.php?col=1004&cat=1004&id=50708

Friday 11:10, November 6th, 2009

Russia's South Stream pipeline is some years behind the Nabucco pipeline, Hungary's Nabucco envoy Mihály Bayer told MTI at the end of talks in Washington on Thursday.

The European Union-backed Nabucco pipeline would bring gas from Central Asia to Europe, reducing the region's energy dependence on Russia. The rival South Stream pipeline would deliver Russian gas to Europe, but bypass Ukraine, whose rows with Moscow have resulted in gas shortages in Europe.

Preparations for such a project can take years, and the feasibility study for the South Stream pipeline has not even been completed, Bayer said. “The Nabucco is certainly some years ahead,” he added.

Preparations for the Nabucco pipeline are being taken over by the consortium of companies that will build it, Bayer said. Planning is continuing at a fast pace and talks on the environmental impact study can start shortly, which could lead to the acquisition of building permits within a year and a half, he added.

Bayer, who was making his fifth trip to the US in his capacity as Nabucco ambassador, said there were some skeptical voices in Washington that placed an emphasis on the difficulties facing the implementation of the pipeline. “But they acknowledge completely that the Nabucco offers our region the most unequivocal and most significant opportunity to diversify our gas supply,” he added.

Bayer said his negotiating partners in the US government confirmed their resolute support for the construction of the Nabucco pipeline. (MTI-Econews)