By Alexis Flynn
LONDON--BP PLC (BP) and its partners in the Shah Deniz gas field
have selected the Nabucco West pipeline concept over the BP-backed
South East Europe Pipeline as one of the two final options to be
considered when the consortium decides on a route to pipe Caspian
gas to Europe next year.
Nabucco West will now be paired off in a two-horse race with the
Trans-Adriatic Pipeline, known as TAP, for the right to export gas
from the giant Shah Deniz development offshore Azerbaijan. A final
decision is due in 2013.
"This represents another important milestone in the development
of Shah Deniz Stage 2 and the transportation of gas resources from
the Caspian to Europe," said BP regional head, Rashid
Javanshir.
Nabucco is a joint venture involving Germany's RWE AG (RWE.XE),
Austrian oil firm OMV AG (OMV.VI) and Hungary's Mol Nyrt. (MOL.BU).
Other partners include Bulgargaz EAD, Transgaz SA and Boru Hatlari
ile Petrol Tasima AS. TAP is planned by EGL AG, Statoil ASA (STO)
and E.ON Ruhrgas AG.
Write to Alexis Flynn alexis.flynn@dowjones.com