VIENNA, Aug. 8 (UPI) -- Executives at the Nabucco pipeline consortium said they are planning talks with Turkish companies to get information on steel deliveries.
Europe is trying to break the Russian grip on the regional energy sector through a series of transit networks in the so-called Southern Corridor, which includes the Nabucco natural gas pipeline.
The pipeline would rely on suppliers in the Middle East and Caspian regions, notably Azerbaijan, and pass through Turkish territory to Europe.
Gabriele Egartner, an official at the Nabucco consortium, told the Trend news agency in response to e-mail queries that the pipeline company was looking at Turkish steel deliveries.
"There will be a bilateral meeting with Turkish company A-zbal Aelik Boru to get more information on pipe delivery," she was quoted as saying.
Azerbaijan recently came forward with pledges of support for the project. In May, however, it was announced that construction was delayed by one year to 2013 and gas deliveries weren't expected until 2017 because of supplier timelines.
Talks with Turkish companies are expected this month in Vienna.
