“This would mean more resources, but also a larger market,” Mr Gegov said recently. He went on to say that talks were still underway, and mentioned as other possible partners Germany’s RWE and France’s Total.
The country’s deputy energy minister Valentin Ivanov, who oversees the gas business in Bulgaria, said he expects the issue with the sixth partner in Nabucco to be finalized by the end of April. “We expect Botas to give its final approval in April,” Mr Ivanov said, adding this could clear the way for Gaz de France to become the sixth shareholder in the project.
The proposed 3360-km long pipeline will transport gas from the Caspian and Black Sea regions to Europe, which wants to reduce its reliance on Russian imports. Its is expected to have a total capacity of 31bn cum/yr by 2020, about 4-5% of total European gas demand by that date. The project is anticipated to be commissioned by 2011-2012.