'Pakistan not party to India-Iran gas pipeline deal'
Pakistan Times Monitoring Desk

NEW DELHI (India): The Iran-India gas pipeline is going to be a bilateral commercial agreement and not a trilateral one including Pakistan, a senior official close to the negotiations has said.

“The pipeline is to be a bilateral commercial agreement between Iran and India for delivery of gas at a point on the border to be indicated by us,” the official, who did not want to be named, told IANS.

“An international consortium will be set up to undertake the project.” Addressing the security aspects of the pipeline that has been under discussion for well over a decade, the official said: “What we envisage is an overarching agreement that could take place between the three parties - Iran, Pakistan and India. “It would help to boost investor confidence and the overarching agreement would set out the responsibilities of all parties.”

Considering the large investment of over $4.5 billion envisaged for natural gas imports of around 75 million metric standard cubic metres a day (MMSCMD), the planners feel commitment of everyone involved with the project is essential for its successful execution and operation.

The quantities of gas to be imported, which is now estimated to be 140-150 MMSCMD with India and Pakistan forecasting a higher demand than originally studied, the specification of the gas quality, the price and the routing of the pipeline are all to be discussed when an Indian team visits Iran early next month.

The Indian side would not be involved in the discussion on the route of the pipeline, which is being left entirely for Iran to take up with Pakistan. “We are not required to look at the route of the pipeline, which Iran and Pakistan would have to plan taking into consideration the cost and viability. If it is the most dangerous terrain, it can be avoided. India’s concern is to get gas at its border,” the official said.

A stand-alone status for the pipelines, whether from Iran or Myanmar, was the only way we can address our energy security concerns.●