Ankara, September 20: Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildizsaid says that the Nabucco pipeline could carry Iraq’s natural gas to Europe via Turkey.
Yildizsaid said Turkey and Iraq have discussed the possibility of signing a memorandum of understanding for exporting Iraq’s natural gas via the pipeline, Reuters reported on September 19.
Turkey and European countries signed a transit deal in July for the 7.9 billion euro project.
Turkey has also voiced its interest in Iran’s participation in the pipeline project, despite the US pressure on Ankara.
The US has repeatedly voiced its opposition to any Iranian participation in the Nabucco project, as part of the Washington’s efforts to isolate Iran.
With nearly 30 trillion cubic meters (1,060 trillion cubit feet) of proven reserves, Iran is second only to Russia as source of natural gas.
“Iran extracts its gas and supplies it to the market so there seems to be no reason for Iran not to participate,” Yildiz had said earlier.
The 3,300-kilometer (2,050-mile) pipeline will bring Caspian and Central Asian gas to Europe and is meant to reduce the European Union’s dependence on Russian natural gas.
—–Agencies