According to Nabucco Managing Director Reinhard Mitschek, Azerbaijan and Iraq may become first gas suppliers for Nabucco main by 2014 end, as European partners reckon, Interfax-Azerbaijan informs.

Simultaneous gas supplies from the two countries will “lift the project’s dependence on one source,” Mitschek stated.

Petroleum Company Ltd. Functioning of Iraqi Kurdistan is involved in the project from Iraqi side. In May, 2009, Austrian OMV and Hungarian MOL acquired 10% of its shares each.

Andris Piebalgs, European Commission’s Commissioner, stated last month that EU initiated talks with Azerbaijan who should provide large part of gas for Nabucco.

The Nabucco project represents a new gas pipeline connecting the Caspian region, Middle East and Egypt via Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary with Austria and further to the Central and Western European gas markets. That is considered an alternative to energy supplies and delivery routes to Europe for relieving dependence on Russian energy.