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Nabucco members doubt about implementation of project - Novak

Commenting on Turkey’s willingness to get a discount on Russian gas, the minister said, “Any country, which buys gas, would like to get it cheaper”

ANTALYA, April 20 (Itar-Tass) - Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said members of the Nabucco consortium have doubts about the implementation of the project.

After the session of the Russian-Turkish commission on trade and economic cooperation on Saturday, Novak said, “In recent times we’ve never heard about the project. It has been slowed down. I believe that the participants themselves have doubts about its future. We carry out the South Stream project.”

Commenting on Turkey’s willingness to get a discount on Russian gas, the minister said, “Any country, which buys gas, would like to get it cheaper.”

“Gas prices are being formed on the market. And it’s commercial companies that discuss issues to reduce the price. The ministry has no impact on them. Suppliers and consumers agree on gas supplies,” he stressed.

“As of today Gazprom has 25-30 percent in Europe while it had about 60 percent 10 years ago,” Novak added. “Thus, today Gazprom has competed with other gas suppliers, pipelines, Norwegian and Algerian gas,” he said.

He also added, “For three months spot gas prices are higher than prices for long-term contracts.” “Consumers and suppliers should analyse the changes on the markets. Besides, prices are being formed under many conditions: reliability, security and volume,” he said.

Representatives of the Russian Energy Ministry said Turkey’s willingness to give a discount was conditioned to the fact that Gazprom’s purchasing prices were linked to the prices that the republic buys gas from other suppliers.

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