An environmental impact assessment procedure for the Bulgarian section
of Nabucco gas pipeline project has been launched, Nabucco Gas Pipeline Bulgaria
said.
Documentation for the procedure was submitted to Bulgaria's environment
ministry on October 31, the company said in a press release on
Monday.
After the environmental review, Nabucco will incorporate feedback after
consultations and then hold public consultations along the route, following
which the application will return to the authorities for a final
decision.
Earlier this year, Nabucco announced the completion of an environmental
impact assessment permitting process for the Hungarian section of the
route.
The Bulgarian section of the pipeline is 422 kilometres (km)
long.
Austria's OMV, the Bulgarian Energy Holding, Turkey's Botas, Romania's
Transgaz, Hungary's MOL and Germany's RWE are partners in the Vienna-based
Nabucco Gas Pipeline International, the project company of the 3,300 km pipeline
designed to connect the Caspian region and the Middle East with the Turkish and
European gas markets that will ensure diversification of routes and sources and
contribute to the security of gas supplies.
The first gas deliveries are expected by 2017.