Speaking out: Reinhard Mitschek
Turkey demand 'not on Nabucco agenda'
A Turkish demand for 15% of the gas pumped through the Nabucco pipeline is not an issue in inter-governmental talks aimed at pushing the project forward, Nabucco consortium head Reinhard Mitschek said.
"The 15% out-take is not on the table," Mitschek told Reuters Television in an interview.
"No deal-breaker is on the table and I am confident that Turkey as well as Europe will feel comfortable with the compromises reached."
A deal between Turkey and European governments on transit agreements for the pipeline should be signed on time in June, he added.
Falling construction and engineering costs should outpace rising financing costs to cut Nabucco's cost to below the existing €7.9 billion ($11.05 billion) estimate for the project, Mitschek added.