U.S considers Nabucco agreement important step towards its realization: U.S Department of State special envoy

"We consider the Nabucco project important step and even more steps remain to be taken, but, the agreement signed on the Nabucco has been a significant incentive that will allow the project to develop further", Morningstar said.

"Generally, we have a positive impression both about Nabucco and the project as a whole, on the Southern Corridor and the inter-governmental agreement signed in Ankara between Turkey and the consortium participants members," Morningstar added.

The Nabucco project worth 7.9 billion euro will deliver Azerbaijani and Central Asian gas to the EU. Nabucco shareholders are the Austrian OMV, Hungarian MOL, Bulgarian Bulgargaz, Romanian Transgaz, Turkish Botas and German RWE with 16.67 percent each.

Construction of the pipeline is expected to begin in 2011 and the first supplies - in 2014. Its maximum capacity will be 31 billion cubic meters per year.

The Nabucco Gas Pipeline International will invest 30 percent of the project on basis of its share. The remaining 70 percent will be provided by international institutions.

/Trend Capital/