The European Union made great efforts, with little success, to win over the middle Asian natural gas exporters in order to decrease their dependency on Russia. However, Russia is planning to corner these countries’ natural gas supplies and resell them in the EU.
According to original arrangements, an Austrian syndicate lead by OMW plans to build the new pipeline from Middle-Asia through Turkey, although it was never cleared which country would provide the gas. The Russian political and economic influence is very strong among the Middle-Asian countries, Azerbajdzjan, Turkmenistan and Kazahstan all refused the EU’s offer, declaring they want to sell their gas to the Russian Gasprom.
According to the new EU energy policy the Union plans to set up a buyers syndicate from the largest European energy concerns to increase its market weight. But the syndicate has to tackle interior conflict of interests as well since Turkey is not satisfied with its transit country role but wants to siphon off 15% of the gas carried on the pipeline at a preferential price without transit fees, using some and reselling some to third parties.
Mihály Bayer, the Hungarian Nabucco representative, said that Turkey’s request puts the financial feasibility of the project in danger.
Vocabulary
• jeopardy – veszély, kockázat
• win over – megnyer magának, elhódít
• dependency – függőség
• natural gas supplies – földgáz készletek
• buyers syndicate – vásárlói konszern/szindikátus
• market weight – piaci súly
• tackle – megbírkózik, megállít, legyőz
• conflict of interest – érdekellentét, összeférhetetlenség
• shippon off – elszipkáz
• third parties – külső partner
• preferential price – kedvezményes ár
• financial feasibility – pénzügyi megtérülés
