The Bulgarian Energy and Economy Minister Petar Dimitrov discussed Wednesday the development of the Nabucco gas pipeline project with Austria's Minister of Economy and Labor Martin Bartenstein, the Bulgarian private Darik Radio reported.

Dimitrov arrived Wednesday in the Austrian capital Vienna, where is on an official visit until April 25.

The Austrian Economy Minister announced that the construction of the Nabucco gas pipeline would be launched in 2009, and that in 2012 it should already be transporting Central Asian natural gas to Europe.

In Bartenstein's words, the governments of the six participating countries (Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Austria, and Germany) had to sign a special agreement so that the pipeline project could be realized more easily.

He also announced that according to the statements by representatives of the Russian energy giant Gazprom, Nabucco and the Russian-sponsored South Stream pipeline were not competitive projects.

The two ministers also discussed the situation around the large future investment in a steel plant at the Black Sea coast planned by the Austrian steel-maker Voestalpine.

"The European Commission should not urge companies to outsource their manufacturing outside the EU because of its policy to reduce carbon dioxide emissions", the Austrian Minister said regarding the choice that Voelstalpine faces whether to invest in other Black Sea region states.

Bartenstein also stated Bulgaria's position as a EU member state should not be turning into a disadvantage because of this. In his words, the production of one ton of steel in Bulgaria or Austria would emit a two times less carbon dioxide compared to its potential production in China.

The Bulgarian Economy Minister pointed out that the construction of Voestalpine's steel factory in Bulgaria would be in the interest of both countries.

Dimitrov stressed Bulgaria could offer really good conditions to the investor, and that it was facing competition by the EC policy on carbon reduction rather than by other states in the region.

The Bulgarian Minister is also going to discuss the potential investment at a meeting with representatives of the management of Voestalpine. Together with his delegation, Dimitrov is going to visit its steel plant in the city of Linz, which is one of the most modern steel factories in Europe.

His program also includes meetings with representatives of the Austrian energy company OMV Gas, and with the Economy Minister of the Upper Austria province.

The trade between Austria and Bulgaria reached the record EUR 1,180 B in 2007, a 87%-increase compared to the 2006 levels.

Austria is the largest foreign investor in Bulgaria with a total of EUR 3,663 B invested between 1996 and 2007, which is 17,1% of all foreign investments in Bulgaria.

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