IEA prioritizes Nabucco gas pipeline over Russia-backed South Stream
BUDAPEST. February 24. KAZINFORM The construction of the Western-backed Nabucco gas pipeline bypassing Russia is more effective in boosting Europe's energy security than Russia's South Stream gas project, the head of the International Energy Agency said on Wednesday; Kazinform refers to RIA Novosti.
Nobuo Tanaka said the Nabucco gas pipeline would diversify gas supply routes in Europe, even though the gas pipeline was longer and required larger investment compared with South Stream.
Tanaka said, however, the increase in the number of gas suppliers would contribute to Europe's security, apparently referring to the implementation of both projects.
The South Stream project, designed to annually pump 31 billion cubic meters of Central Asian and Russian gas to the Balkans and on to other European countries, involves Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary, Italy and Greece; Kazinform cites RIA Novosti.
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