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Europe urges central Asia to supply energy circumnavigating Russia
In the Prague Summit the EU gets the essential adhesion of Azerbaijan, Turkey, Georgia and Egypt for the planned gas line from the Caspian Sea to Europe. But the Central Asian states are hesitant. Iraq, Iran and Qatar also remain on sidelines.
Baku (AsiaNews/Agencies) – A mixed out come from the May 8th Prague summit, in which the European Union sought to reboot the creation of a gas pipeline from central Asia and the Middle East. The EU succeeding in getting the go ahead from Azerbaijan, Egypt, Turkey and Georgia, but for now the main gas producing central Asian states are on the sidelines.Europe wants to break away from its dependence on Russian energy and create a “southern corridor” (or new silk route). In short a system of gas pipelines to transport central Asian and Middle Eastern energy that circumnavigates Russia, a project that EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso defined “fundamental”. In Prague two energy suppliers (Azerbaijan and Egypt) and two key transit states (Turkey and Georgia) signed the deal which assures them of “necessary political support” and even eventual “financial and technical assistance”Turkish President Abdullah Gul (in photo with Barroso, at the Summit) also appears in favour of beginning work on the Nabucco oil duct from eastern Turkey to Austria by June, even if he clearly set out that he expects, in Exchange, progress on Ankara’s request to become and EU member.In turn Strasbourg committed itself to providing “the political, economic and financial resources for the project to create a direct line to the Caspian Sea [from central Asia]”.But Kazakistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan remain hesitant preferring not to sign such an accord. Their participation is essential as they are supplying nations. Turkmenistan, which has the 5th largest natural gas reserves in the world, will address the issue again on June 4th when a delegation will travel to Brussels.
To reduce its’ dependence on Russia, the EU wants to realise three new oil pipelines in the region. As well as Nabucco, “White Stream” from Georgia to Romania via the Black Sea and Interconnector through Turkey and Greece to Italy (Itgy), are also in planning.
All three together will provide 10% of Europe’s energy requirements by 2020, equal to an estimated 60 billion metres cubed of raw material. Today the EU buys 150 billion mc from Russia every year.
This system should also draw energy from Iraq, Qatar and Iran. Iraq was invited but did not participate, while unofficial sources report that Iran will be invited “as soon as circumstances permit”.