June 2009 Vol. 236 No. 6

Projects

Progress Noted On Nabucco Pipeline Project

U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar, ranking Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, applauded an agreement last month between European Union member states Turkey and Azerbaijan to move forward on the Nabucco Pipeline project.

“Energy security is essential for the national security of every country. Nabucco will help safeguard the independence and prosperity of each nation involved. Importing and exporting nations alike will benefit when no one country monopolizes supply routes,” Lugar (R-IN) said, adding “I am confident that President Obama, Vice President Biden, and Secretary Clinton understand the strategic and economic importance of this pipeline for the United States, our friends in the region and NATO.”

The proposed Nabucco Pipeline project would be built across Turkey and countries of Eastern Europe to link gas supplies of the Caspian Sea region directly with European consumers.  Currently Russia serves as an intermediary between European consumers and Central Asian suppliers.