The Trans-Anatolian natural-gas pipeline project, which has supplanted the European Union-backed Nabucco proposal as the leading contender to carry Caspian gas to Europe will likely be endorsed by the Turkish and Azeri governments as soon as next week, Turkey's Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said Friday.

"We are very close to signing an agreement with Azerbaijan on TANAP," said Mr. Yildiz, adding that an accord would represent a "serious resolution for the EU countries" that would aid them in securing cheaper, plentiful energy supplies.

A deal would "most probably" come next week, said Mr. Yildiz. "The agenda of the leaders will affect when it is signed," he said.

TANAP, a proposal by Azerbaijan 's state-controlled oil company Socar and its Turkish peer, Botas, to build a pipeline to carry gas across Turkey , effectively would make a portion of Nabucco's original project redundant.

Because TANAP is a cheaper and more scaleable option, requiring less than the 31 billion meters of gas a year needed by Nabucco, it has found growing favor with the partners in the BP PLC (BP)-led Shah Deniz project that will produce the gas to be exported.

A final decision on which pipeline to use will come next year.

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