BRUSSELS
,Nov. 12 (UPI) -- Natural gas from the Kurdish regions of northern Iraqcould aid in regional development if designated for the Nabuccopipeline for Europe, leaders said.
Europe sees Nabucco as the foundation to its effort to diversify theregional energy sector. Despite political backing, however, the projectlacks firm commitments from potential gas suppliers.
Nabucco would run from Central Asian and Middle Eastern suppliers through Turkeyto European customers. Iran and Turkey signed a series of energy dealsrecently, raising the possibility that Iranian gas could feed Nabucco.
Energy analysts, however, say Iran will not be ready to supplynatural gas to Nabucco in time for its scheduled 2014 completion date,adding Iraq might be a better candidate.
Massoud Barzani,president of the Kurdistan Regional Government, told European lawmakersthat linking Iraqi gas to Nabucco would benefit his region.
"Linking the Iraqi pipeline to the Nabucco would enable Kurdistan to play a major role in the region," he said.
Nabucco is designed to have the capacity to move 1.1 trillion cubicfeet of natural gas each year to European customers from Caspian andMiddle Eastern suppliers. The pipeline would run from the Caspianregion through Turkey to Austria along a route through Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary.
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Region is set for a large growth period imho