Turkey to access European gas under Nabucco

Turkey will have access to European gas under a Nabucco pipeline deal and has abandoned its demand to buy 15 per cent of the gas, a major obstacle to finalising the deal, said Energy Minister Taner Yildiz.

The pipeline – connecting Turkey and a major natural gas hub in Austria – is to be built so that gas can flow in an west-east direction, as well as east-west as planned, to allow Turkey that access, he said in an interview.

Yildiz said, however, that Turkey would have a right to take a share from 15 billion cubic metres, or half of the total 31 billion cubic metres of gas flowing through the pipeline. He did not specify what percentage Turkey would have a right to.

Transit agreements for the European Union and US-backed Nabucco pipeline are set to be signed in Ankara today by Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Austria. Germany is also a partner in the project.

Nabucco will help Europe diversify its natural gas suppliers and delivery routes in addition to strengthening Turkey's own energy security, said Yildiz. Possible suppliers for the €7.9 billion (Dh40.43bn) project include Iraq, Egypt, Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia and Turkmenistan.

"An article in the intergovernmental agreements states that six partner countries in the project will be given 50 per cent of the gas if they want. This is an important article," he said. "We had negotiated 15 per cent of the gas in transit, or 4.5 billion cubic metres. Now we are looking for the gas we will take from the 50 per cent, not 15 per cent."

Nabucco gas will enter Turkey at three border points and Yidliz said there would be no obstacle for other countries to join the project.

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