The volumes of oil and gas offered by Azerbaijan will not be sufficient for launching the Nabucco project, Ivan Danilin, Leading Scientific Expert, Institute of World Economy and International Relations, RF Academy of Sciences, told NEWS.am, referring to the data published by the State Oil and Gas Company of Azerbaijan, as well as to the behavior of large companies exporting energy carriers from the region.

According to him, the full operation of the Nabucco pipeline requires other exporter states’ participation. Danilin believes that the Central Asian states having huge oil and gas resources are interested in exporting natural gas to the European Union (EU) and in its transit through the states that do have much influence on the energy carriers market.

“Under the circumstances, gas export to the EU through Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey is of strategic interest, but Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan have not yet resolved the territorial problems involving the Caspian basin,” Danilin said. He pointed out numerous other obstacles to energy projects.

According to Danilin, Iran may become an alternative route for Central Asian energy resources. Iran and Turkmenistan have taken some steps in this direction: the states signed an agreement increasing Iranian imports of Turkmen gas. Iran itself plans large gas exports to the EU. Iran and Turkey have reached agreements on the construction of a gas main from the South Pars gas field through Turkey, where the necessary infrastructure is being created.

Danilin is sure that Turkey will become of the principal centers of transit of energy resources to the EU if the South Pars and South Stream (Russia) projects are launched. This, in turn, will enhance Turkey’s regional influence.

One of the branches of the South Pars gas main may run through Armenia. “I think it will be possible if the Armenian-Turkish relations improve,” Danilin said. The expert believes that Azerbaijan will hardly be able to prevent the construction of the gas main.