Moscow, September, 28. (ITAR-TASS). Searches in German and Czech divisions of Gazprom “are reaction of European Commission to South Stream project promotion and weak prospects of Nabucco,” the Director of the National Energy Institute Sergey Pravosudov declared ITAR-TASS.

He reminded that on September, 16, the heads of Gazprom, Italian Eni, German BASF and French EdF signed the agreement on joint building of South Stream gas pipeline, which is the direct competitor to Nabucco. «Now European Commission should compete to the heads of the leading European Union countries: Germany, France and Italy», considers Sergey Pravosudov.
According to the expert, meanwhile struggle for the right to conclude international contracts on delivery of energy carriers proceeds in Europe, «while this right remains for the heads of EU member states. However the European Union management tries to take international «gas» policy in the hands», the expert has noted, having referred that European Commission was possible to receive on September, 12, the mandate on carrying out of negotiations with Azerbaijan and Turkmenia under the contract on building of the Trans-Caspian gas pipeline, which should become an essential part of the project Nabucco.
«Most likely, country leaders of members of EU have specially transferred European Commission the right to negotiate on Trans-Caspian gas pipeline as they do not trust in its availability as this project has been discussed about 20 years but while nothing has happened»,  told S. Pravosudov. In his opinion, the main reason here that the contract on Caspian Sea share was signed only by Russia, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan. Turkmenistan and Iran refused signing it.
«It is necessary to understand, what will fill Trans-Caspian gas pipeline, if it nevertheless is constructed”, the expert continued, “today Turkmenistan delivers gas to Russia, Iran and China. And it is planned to increase promptly deliveries in the People’s Republic of China. Where will be taken free gas for Europe?» As resource base of Trans-Caspian gas pipeline is called recently discovered deposit South Iolotan, which stocks allegedly exceed 10 billion cubic meters of gas. According to the company McKinsey, the cost price of South Iolotan gas production will be one of the highest in the world, essentially exceeding expenses on development of Shtokman deposit.
«Thus, it is possible to ascertain that the European Union purpose to bring down the price for the Russian gas at the expense of delivery of resources from Turkmenistan is impracticable, as new Turkmen gas cannot be cheap by definition», underlined S. Pravosudov.
According to his opinion, «even if the Trans-Caspian gas pipeline is constructed and not less than 20 billion cubic meters of gas annually will go through it, it will be possible to fill Nabucco together with 10 billion cubic meters of the Azerbaijan gas. As a result Europe will receive the source of deliveries independent of Russia», the expert has noted, “however, this gas main will pass on unstable territory on which some frozen conflicts smolder: Nagorny Karabakh in Azerbaijan, South Ossetia and Abkhazia in Georgia, Kurdish separatists in Turkey «. Thus he has reminded that the gas pipeline connecting Iran and Turkey is constantly exploded by terrorists.
«The European Commission has taken heavy load and if it manages to solve all contradictions and to realize the project Nabucco, its management will be worthy a monument during lifetime. However while the South Stream project advancement causes irritation by European commissioners”, the Director of the Russian National Energy Institute has concluded.