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Nabucco Project Development in Romania Moving Ahead at Rapid Pace
Romania Adopts Law Declaring Nabucco a ‘Project of National Interest and Public Utility’
The law concerning measures necessary to develop the Nabucco Natural Gas Pipeline has been promulgated by the President of Romania, Traian Basescu, qualifying the Nabucco Project as being of national interest and public utility in Romania.
The law addresses and clarifies measures needed in diverse fields relevant to the implementation of the NABUCCO project: environmental, regulatory, land ownership and access, as well as other technical issues. The so-called ‘Nabucco Special Law’ further consolidates the regulatory framework surrounding the Nabucco Project.
The law was adopted by the Romanian parliament on 21 May this year.
Reinhard Mitschek, CEO, NABUCCO Gas Pipeline International GmbH said: “Romania is a key partner in the success of the Nabucco pipeline, as the committee meeting concluded in Bucharest on 21 May demonstrated. We welcome the approval of this law, which further demonstrates the political support, and the watertight legal and regulatory framework enjoyed by the project. Nabucco continues to move ahead in terms of legal and political support, as well as in terms of technical and engineering works. Romania is also well on the way to becoming the third country to complete Environmental permitting for the project, after Hungary and Bulgaria. We continue to work to ensure that when Caspian gas is ready to be transported to Europe, Nabucco is ready to receive it".
Vlad Pavlovschi, Managing Director, NABUCCO Romania said: "The adoption of this law, after a rigorous and thorough process, is a positive step for the implementation of NABUCCO in Romania. Our priority in Romania continues to be the completion of the EIA permitting process. We are confident of completing this step in the near future with the co-operation of the Romanian authorities. We are also focused on the land rights and easement procedures for the necessary permits for the construction of the pipeline. We will continue to work with communities and local and national authorities for the development of the project”.
The NABUCCO National Company in Romania has also announced the successful completion of public hearings for the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) permitting procedure in the country. The public hearings were organized between 8-15 May in 24 settlements located in the five counties crossed by the Romanian section of the Nabucco pipeline.
The public hearings were organized by NABUCCO Romania (NNC) together with the National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) and local Environmental Protection Agencies and with the support of the local public administration of the 24 settlements.
ABOUT NABUCCO
The NABUCCO pipeline is the shortest route to access the markets of South Eastern Europe. Only NABUCCO enables direct access to the entire Balkan market as well as to Italy and Greece.
The NABUCCO pipeline will connect with the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) at the Turkish-Bulgarian border, transiting Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania to the Central European Gas Hub in Baumgarten, Austria. Via Baumgarten, gas from the NABUCCO Pipeline can be transported to over 500 million customers across Europe.
The project´s comprehensive legal framework is fully established both in terms of ratified Intergovernmental Agreement and Project Support Agreements and exemptions from the 3rd Energy Package being in place.
The NABUCCO pipeline offers a scalable concept and enables access to considerable storage capacity along the route. Environmental permits have already been obtained in Hungary, and are pending final approval in Romania and Bulgaria. NABUCCO is notably the most technically advanced route, with one integrated operations and control system, ensuring the highest reliability and safety standards.
President Basescu promulgating Nabucco special law facilitates project implementation in Romania
President Traian Basescu having signed a decree promulgating the Law concerning certain necessary measures for the development of the Nabucco natural gas pipeline is the expression of the political will of the Romanian authorities to take an active part in carrying through this project, reads a press release issued on Monday by the Romanian Foreign Ministry (MAE).
'The law is designed to accelerate in Romania all the works needed for the implementation of the Nabucco project, which is aimed at providing access to natural gas in the second stage of the exploitation of the Azeri field Shah Deniz, as well as gas transmission to the European market. The Foreign Ministry has been constantly involved in the efforts to develop Nabucco and believes the adoption and promulgation of this law facilitates the carrying through of the project,' says MAE.
MAE also says the gas pipeline will bring significant strategic and commercial advantages to Romania and contribute to improving energy security in Central and South-Eastern Europe as well as of the entire European Union.
The Nabucco project is a priority promoted by Romania as the main project of the southern natural gas corridor of the European Union, an initiative aimed at diversifying energy sources and transport routes inside the European Union.
'Romania continues to be an active partner involved in the implementation of this project through the Transgaz SA national gas transmission corporation, as well as at a governmental level,' says MAE.
Romania's Chamber of Deputies on May 21 approved as the decision making chamber a draft law concerning some necessary measures for the development of the Nabucco natural gas pipeline. The Senate had voted on the draft on May 14.
The decree promulgating the special law was signed by President Traian Basescu on May 31, becoming Law 169/2013.