Late July officials from six countries met in Turkey and signed an agreement to build the Nabucco pipeline. The pipeline will run from Turkey’s eastern border through Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and a key gas terminal would be located in Baumgarten, Austria. Germany is also a partner in the deal and it is backed by the U.S. as well.

Russia currently controls the existing network of pipelines that supply natural gas to Europe, but Nabucco would break that hold and provide an alternative for gas delivery.

The idea for the Nabucco pipeline (named after a Verdi opera) began in 2002 but the plans languished amid disagreements among consortium partners and lack of commitment from natural gas producers. However, the plan got a boost after Russia turned off the gas to Europe in January because of a series of price disputes with the Ukraine. ...