Ankara (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The agreement between the five countries involved in the Nabucco project, the major gas pipeline that would bring gas to Europe from Central Asia, will be signed today in Ankara, allowing Europe, now largely dependent on Russia, to diversify its sources of supply.

Representatives from Bulgaria, Romania, Austria, Hungary and Turkey will sign the deal, in the presence of the EU Commission President, Jose Manuel Barroso, and U.S. energy secretary, Richard Morningstar.  

The obstacle posed by Turkey, which claimed 15% of the gas passing over its territory, seems to have been finally overcome. Ankara has abandoned its request, having received in exchange, explained the Turkish minister energy, Taner Yildiz, the guarantee that his country will have access to 50% of the Nabucco gas, if it was necessary in times of difficulty. The pipeline can function both in the east-west and opposite direction.  

Launched in 2002, the Nabucco project provides an opportunity to move along the 3300 kilometres of the pipeline up to 31 billion cubic meters of gas per year and is expected to become operational in 2014. The cost of the work is estimated at 7.9 billion Euros.  

The countries of Central Asia supplying the gas are: Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, even if all relevant agreements are refined. Attention is also being given to Azerbaijan and Iraq, but difficulties for Iran remain, because of the sanctions imposed on the country.   Doors are open to Russia too, but it is pursuing an alternative project with Italian Eni. It is the South Stream, which passes under the Black Sea exiting in Bulgaria.