They said the pipeline would bring supplies from Turkey, which already receives gas from Russia, and could provide Europe with gas from further afield including Iran and Azerbaijan. The link, known as Napucco, is backed by a group of five companies including Austria’s OMV and Turkish state pipeline concern Botas.
The project will transport about 20Bcum/yr of gas across a number of countries, including Hungary, Bulgaria, and Romania, and might use existing infrastructure in some places. “The level of investment needed will depend on how much of the existing pipeline systems can be used,” a senior Botas official said. The pipeline would bring new sources of gas to Austria, which currently relies heavily on imports from Russia’s Gazprom.