Iraq Wants to Play Role in Nabucco Pipeline

The Iraqi Ministry for Oil has said that Iraq is keen to play a part in the Nabucco pipeline project, at a direct benefit to the country's economy.

Speaking to the Trend news agency, spokesperson for the Ministry for Oil, Asym Jihad, said the country was keen to become involved in the project.

"Iraq's officials have repeatedly stated that the country is interested in participation in this project," he said. Mr. Jihad also said that Iraq's involvement in the pipeline would prove beneficial to the country's economy.

The Nabucco pipeline is currently one of five disparate pipelines competing to transport gas from the Shah Deniz field in Azerbaijan to the rest of Europe. If Iraq was to become involved in the project, it would seek to also transport Iraqi gas through the pipeline. Such additional gas would add to the capacity of gas transported through the pipeline, which is currently planned to be 31 billion cubic metres annually, and diversify supply.

However, despite estimates from Nabucco that the pipeline will begin gas transit by 2013, Iraq is unlikely to fulfill any gas supply by the date. Mr. Jihad said that initial gas supply from Iraq through the Nabucco pipeline could be expected between 2015 and 2017.

He also said that political turmoil between Iraq and autonomous region Kurdistan would not disrupt any chance of gas supply, with Mr. Jihad expecting that both parties will be able to reach a resolve before gas supply begins.

The Nabucco pipeline currently has six European shareholders, each holding a 16.67 per cent stake: BOTAS, Bulgarian Energy Holding, FGSZ, OMV, RWE and Transgaz.