The Nabucco partners OMV and RWE are open towards the French initiative to join the consortium for the construction and operation of the Nabucco gas pipeline. During yesterday’s meeting with his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gül, the French State President Nicolas Sarkozy signaled France‘s interest in the engagement of a French company in this energy project. Stefan Judisch, CEO of RWE Supply & Trading (Essen), the German partner company of the Nabucco consortium, said: “We welcome the wish of the French Presidency to join the Nabucco project. We have always stated that Nabucco is open to any partner, who wants to contribute its experience and strengths for the common success of the project.” Werner Auli, OMV Member of the Executive Board, Head of Gas & Power also favored the French initiative: “Nabucco is a European project which will considerably contribute to the security of supply. Thus, the potential participation of a French company in this project can only be welcomed.”

Nabucco is a future-oriented infrastructure project. Against the backdrop of declining inland resources and a considerably rising need to import natural gas, Europe is seeking to develop partnerships with new supply countries to supplement its classic energy partnership network. The 3,300 km long Nabucco pipeline will transport natural gas from the Caspian region and the Middle East to Turkey and then further on to Europe. Azerbaijan, Iraq and Turkmenistan will be the potential supplying countries. Pipeline projects like Nabucco make a significant contribution to enhance Europe’s security of supply and provide new impetus for competition within the gas market. In addition, they increase business security and investment protection for the gas supplying countries.


In addition to OMV and RWE, the Nabucco consortium encompasses the Turkish Botas, the Bulgarian Energy Holding, the Romanian Transgaz and the Hungarian MOL. On July 13, 2009, the Nabucco transit countries agreed on a common legal framework by signing a state treaty in Ankara. The signing countries committed themselves to providing full political support and guaranteeing uniform legal framework conditions for the construction and operation of the pipeline as well as for tariff structures. This intergovernmental agreement will be valid for 50 years. Transport capacities will be awarded by the Nabucco Gas Pipeline International in a transparent Open Season process. 50% will be reserved to the Nabucco shareholders and the remaining 50% will be awarded to third party market players. Next year, the final decision about the total investment volume for the realization of the pipeline will be taken, which - according to current estimates - should amount to roughly EUR eight billion.