A gas pipeline is to be built starting from the Turkish-Bulgarian border via Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Austria, with a length of over 1,300 km and a capacity of 10 billion cubic metres per year. Romania is a key partner in the development of this project according to the 5th meeting of the Nabucco committee in Bucharest. On this occasion, the partners in the project signed an association agreement which also leaves room for other future investors.

The agreement sets the conditions under which other investors may take part in the project. Prime minister Victor Ponta called on the countries and companies involved to show determination in their support for the Nabucco project:

Victor Ponta: “Romania, through Transgaz, is one of the countries that strongly supports the creation of this project, even though, compared to other states in the region, it is less dependant on the gas transiting this new route. However, in the medium and long run, the creation of this project is an opportunity for development and energy security for Romania and the region. Reducing dependence on a single producer is a strategic major objective.”

At government level, Romania is committed to the implementation of the Nabucco project, having signed an intergovernmental agreement on the development of the project in July 2009 and an agreement to support the project in June 2011. Building works are due to start in 2015, while the first gas deliveries are due to arrive in Georgia and Turkey in 2018. The gas is expected to reach Europe in 2019, according to the executive director of Nabucco International, Reinhard Mitschek. The latter also explained to our radio station that the rumours according to which the oil group OMV plans to sell its Nabucco shares are ungrounded.