Indian petroleum ministry opposes pipeline route through Pakistan
The Gas Authority of India (GAIL) plans to lay a pipeline from Iran to India across the Arabian Sea bed in
association with Gazprom, but the Indian petroleum ministry said it opposes any proposed route through Pakistan
territory. "GAIL has already started negotiations relating to the offshore pipeline with the Russian company," a GAIL
official said.
Gazprom has tied up with National Iranian Oil Company to develop a section of South Pars gasfield, a major gas source
for the proposed pipeline. "A tripartite meeting among Iran, India and Russia will be held in New Delhi in September
to discuss the pipeline project," the official added.
Gazprom has in principle agreed to prepare a feasibility report for the proposed 1,500 km offshore pipeline, which
will carry up to 2 bn cfpd. The six-year project has been estimated at around $ 3 bn.
But during his recent visit, Indian minister for external affairs Jaswant Singh told the Iranian authorities that his
country would not accept the pipeline dealunless certain fundamental issues were addressed. "No one country can have
arbitrary and unilateral control to turn off the tap. There must be assured security of supply," Singh said,
referring to ministry concerns on Pakistan.
Given the history of animosity between the two countries, the ministry said India can 'never be sure of supplies'
coming through Pakistan.
