Alexander Khetaguri: AGRI project can be realized earlier than Nabucco

AGRI (Azerbaijan-Georgia-Romania Interconnector) project can be realized earlier than Nabucco, said the Georgian Energy Minister Alexander Khetaguri.

Note that, the preparations of tender for selection of company, which will prepare feasibility study of AGRI Project, are underway and the tender will be announced next month. After selection of tender winner, the project will pass into next stage. According to Khetaguri, the investments will be involved in this stage.

AGRI) is a proposed project to transport Azerbaijani natural gas to Romania. Natural gas would be transported by the pipeline from Sangachal Terminal in Azerbaijan to the Kulevi Terminal at the Black Sea coast of Georgia. In Kulevi, the liquefied natural gas export terminal (LNG plant) would be built. Liquefied natural gas will be transported by LNG tankers to the Constanţa terminal in Romania. After regasificaton natural gas will be delivered through the existing gas grid to Romania and other European countries. Alternative to the transportation of liquefied natural gas is transportation of compressed natural gas.

Capacity of the interconnector is expected to be 7 billion cubic metres (bcm) of natural gas per year, of which 2 bcm will be consumed in Romania. The project is expected to cost cost ˆ4–6 billion.

The project is seen as a competitor to the Nabucco pipeline, White Stream, and South Stream pipeline projects.


/APA/