The decision on the route to be used by Azerbaijan to export its gas to Europe was delayed until the first quarter of last year, according to a statement of the President state oil company SOCAR, Rovnag Abdullayev.

Azeris have to choose between the three pipeline projects, Nabucco, ITGI (Interconnector Italy-Turkey-Greece) and TAP (Trans Adriatic Pipeline) project companies submitting their final offers to transport natural gas from Azerbaijan to Europe.
"At present the proposals submitted are reviewed carefully. It is possible that this process will continue until the first quarter of 2012, "said Rovnag Abdullayev, which excluded speculation about abandoning Nabucco. "Nabucco, as well as TAP and ITGI are still taken into account," said President Socar.

Supply of natural gas from Azerbaijan to Europe is part of the second phase of Shah Deniz development of huge deposit, whose reserves are estimated at 1200 billion cubic meters. Today, Azerbaijani gas is transported to Georgia and Turkey through the South Caucasus gas pipeline. But Europe is concerned that cooperation with Azerbaijan as a source of gas for southern gas corridor project.