Nabuccco pipeline putting into operation might be delayed for 4 years and start in 2018 the soonest, EU Commissioner for Energy Guenther Oettinger said in an interview with Sueddeutsche Zeitung.

According to him, there is a 65% robability that the decision on gas pipeline construction will be made in 2010.

Nabuccco main, enabling gas supply from Central Asia and Europe that will make European states independent from Russian gas, remains “a prestigious EU project,” Oettinger stressed.

Nabucco’s Managing Director Reinhard Mitschek stated that no decisions on cancellation and delay were made, Reuters reports. Mitschek assured that mine’s construction will be launched in 2011, whereas first gas supplies – in 2014. It will start with 8-10 bcm/year gradually increasing to 31bcm.

Dow Jones quotes a spokesman for RWE and one of Nabucoo initiators who informed that the company expects final investment decision in the current year.

Nabucoo main construction was initially expected to launch in 2011. All the necessary permissions for construction are obtained, though resource base for Nabucoo is yet unclear. Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Iran are considered sources for gas pipeline, however no document was signed.

A.G.