Ukrainian experts are now understood to be exploring the possibility of linking the Ukrainian pipeline system to the 3,400-km Nabucco route, which runs through Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, and Austria, the construction of which will begin in 2008, so that it can go on-stream in 2011. The European Commission and the energy ministries of the countries crossed by Nabucco approved the $5.8-bn project in June last year. Both Ukraine and the European Union hope the alternative pipeline will help them diversify supply routes away from Russia and thus boost their energy security.