Russia is free to supply natural gas to the Nabucco pipeline and countries participating in the project must accept it as a partner, the U.S. special energy envoy said Sunday.
But the envoy, Richard L. Morningstar, reiterated Washington's opposition to the possibility of shipping Iranian natural gas through the $11 billion pipeline, after Turkey said Tehran could participate.
Transit agreements for the Nabucco pipeline are set to be signed in Ankara on Monday by Turkey,Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Austria. Germany is also a partner in the project.
The European Union has supported the project as a way of reducing its reliance on Russian natural gas, with possible suppliers to include Iraq, Egypt, Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia and Turkmenistan. Washington also back the pipeline.
"My understanding of the agreement is that 50 percent of the gas that will go into Nabucco is open for competition among any suppliers," Mr. Morningstar said, "and Russia is certainly free to participate in that way to supply part of that 50 percent".
Countries participating in the project should decide whether to accept Russia as a new partner in Nabucco, he said. The Turkish energy minister, Taner Yildiz, told Reuters on Saturday that Russia could join Nabucco if it wanted.
The management of Nabucco has thus been unable to fing sufficient supplies for the pipeline, which is competing with the Russian-backed South Stream pipeline to feed the growing consumption of natural gas in Europe.
Iran has almost 16 percent of the world's total natural gas reserves, but has no major net exports, partly because U.S. and United Nations sanctions have deterred Western investments.
"The United States has tried to engage Iran in the discussions as to our relationship and on all issues including the nuclear issue, but that offer of engagement has not been reciprocated at this point," Mr. Morningstar said.
(from the "INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE", 13/07/2009)