The contribution of the Nabucco pipeline to the security of natural gas supply in the european context : “The Opera Pipeline” – an assessment study of Nabucco pipeline

Abstract

In January 2006 Europe entered into a state of shock by the unexpected shortage of natural gas that had been caused by the Russian-Ukrainian gas dispute. The gas pipeline crossing Ukraine provides the EU market with Russian natural gas, and this shutdown resulted in a significant disturbance for many of the EU members. In the new world order, interruption of energy supplies could threaten the national security of a country to the same magnitude as military actions. With EU depending on Russia, Norway and Algeria for more than half of its imported natural gas consumption, this threat could be more tangibly sensed. However, in the wake of this crisis, EU members became sensitized to the matter of sustainability and security of monopolized gas supply and the consequent geopolitical vulnerability. The Russian-Ukrainian crisis brings energy security to the forefront of the EU agenda and made European policy makers contemplate about new pipeline routes and LNG technology in order to diversify their supply resources. Therefore, the attentions turned to Central Asia and Middle East as an abundant source of natural gas and Nabucco pipeline as a potential route to contribute to the diversification of natural gas supplies to the EU and enhancing the European energy security.