Nabucco pipeline

Nabucco pipeline
Location of the Nabucco pipeline
Location
Country	Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Austria
General direction	east–west
From	Ahiboz, Turkey
Passes through	İnegöl, Yuluce, Kırklareli, Kofcas, Lozenets, Oryahovo, Port of Bechet, Nădlac, Dolj, Mehedinti, Caras-Severin, Timiş, and Arad
To	Baumgarten an der March, Austria
General information
Type	Natural gas
Partners	OMV MOL Transgaz Bulgargaz BOTAŞ RWE
Operator	Nabucco Gas Pipeline International GmbH
Technical information
Length	3,893 km (2,419 mi)
Maximum discharge	31 billion cubic metres (1.1×10^12 cu ft) per year
Diameter	56 in (1,422 mm)

Nabucco-West
Map of Nabucco-West
Location
Country	Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Austria
General direction	east–west
From	Strandzha, Bulgaria
Passes through	Lozenets, Oryahovo, Port of Bechet, Nădlac, Dolj, Mehedinti, Caras-Severin, Timiş, and Arad
To	Baumgarten an der March, Austria
General information
Type	Natural gas
Partners	BOTAŞ (Turkey) BEH (Bulgaria) FGSZ (Hungary) OMV (Austria) Transgaz (Romania)
Operator	Nabucco Gas Pipeline International GmbH
Expected	2018
Technical information
Length	1,329 km (826 mi)
Maximum discharge	10 to 23 billion cubic metres per year
Diameter	48 in (1,219 mm)

The Nabucco-West pipeline (also referred to as the Turkey–Austria gas pipeline) was a proposed natural gas pipeline from the Turkish-Bulgarian border to Austria. It is a modification of the original Nabucco Pipeline project, which was to run from Erzurum in Turkey to Baumgarten an der March in Austria. The aim of the Nabucco pipeline is to diversify the natural gas suppliers and delivery routes for Europe, thus reducing European dependence on Russian energy. The original project was backed by several European Union member states and by the United States, and was seen as a rival to the South Stream pipeline project. The main supplier was expected to be Iraq, with potential supplies from Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Egypt. The main supply for the Nabucco West was to be Shah Deniz gas through the proposed Trans-Anatolian gas pipeline (TANAP).

The project is being developed by a consortium of six companies. Preparations started in 2002 and the intergovernmental agreement between Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary and Austria was signed on 13 July 2009. After an announcement of the construction of TANAP, the consortium has submitted the Nabucco-West project. Construction of Nabucco-West depended on the gas export route decision by the Shah Deniz consortium. After Shah Deniz consortium decision to prefer the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline over Nabucco, Nabucco's shareholders have to decide the next steps for the project.