U.S planning gas transit to Europe bypassing RussiaOctober 13, 2008 - 13:52 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A U.S. official said that a deal may soon be sealed allowing natural gas from ex-Soviet nations to reach western Europe bypassing Russian territory.Boyden Gray, the U.S. special envoy for Eurasian energy issues, told reporters in Rome that an agreement on a pipeline could be completed in as soon as six months. "I think there will be an understanding for transit through Turkey for a pipeline," Gray said, without elaborating. "Completely firm details and shovels underground no, but the outlines of a deal, yes," he added, the AP reports. The Nabucco pipeline is a planned natural gas pipeline that will transport natural gas from Turkey to Austria, via Bulgaria, Romania, and Hungary. The pipeline will run from Erzurum in Turkey to Baumgarten an der March in Austria with total length of 3,300 kilometres (2,050 mi). It will be connected near Erzurum with the Tabriz-Erzurum pipeline, and with the South Caucasus Pipeline, connecting Nabucco Pipeline with the planned Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline. Polish gas company PGNiG is studying the possibility of building a link to Poland with the Nabucco gas pipeline. In early years after completion the deliveries are expected to be between 4.5 and 13 billion cubic meters (bcm) per annum. Construction of pipeline is expected to begin in 2010 and is planned to be finished in 2013. It estimated to cost around 7.9 billion. The company leading the project is OMV from Austria. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | About 173 million drams and more than 30 beneficiary funds. "The Power of One Dram" is 4 years old In June 2020, the exclusive joint corporate social responsibility initiative of Idram and IDBank "The Power of One Dram" was launched. CSTO budget “to be adjusted due to Yerevan’s non-payment of contributions” The CSTO budget for the current year requires adjustments due to the refusal of Yerevan to pay their share of contributions. Russia sends note of protest to Armenia over envoy’s trip to Ukraine’s Bucha Russia has sent a note of protest to Armenia over the visit of Vladimir Karapetyan and Tigran Ter-Margaryan to Bucha. Armenia: Protesters march to parliament, some spend the night on street The protesters did not disperse despite heavy rain that began at around 2 a.m. local time. |