WRITE for ATol ADVERTISE MEDIA KIT GET ATol BY EMAIL ABOUT ATol CONTACT US
WSI
Asia Time Online - Daily News
             
Asia Times Chinese
AT Chinese



    South Asia
     Jun 9, 2005
India, Pakistan to accelerate gas pipeline from Iran

ISLAMABAD - India and Pakistan have agreed to accelerate plans to build a US$4.16 billion pipeline to bring Iranian gas to South Asia for meeting the huge energy deficits of the two countries.

Petroleum Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar and his Pakistani counterpart Amanullah Khan Jadoon "agreed that the transnational pipeline projects should be given top priority as there would be substantial advantage to both countries in pursuing and realizing cooperation in these projects, to serve their energy security interests, and to create linkages and inter-dependencies for establishing an enduring relationship between the two countries", said a joint statement issued after two-days of ministerial-level talks on import of gas through transnational pipelines.

The two sides agreed to set up a joint working group at the secretary-level to draw parameters and lay roadmap for the Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline. They "agreed to exchange information in regard to the financial structuring, technical, commercial, legal and related issues to realize a safe and secure world class project", the statement said.

Releasing the joint statement, Aiyar said: "We have come to conclusion of a very successful visit to Pakistan. It comes in context of our desire to very considerably strengthen relations with Pakistan in our mutual and joint quest of energy security."

Aiyar, who called on Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf Tuesday morning, said India would also continue to explore options of importing Turkmenistan gas through the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-sponsored Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (TAP) pipeline and possibly from Qatar through a pipeline that would run undersea and overland through UAE and Pakistan.

Besides, options of linking gas reserves in Uzbekistan, Khazakhstan and Russia to TAP will also be explored. With Musharraf blessing the project and pledging to "personally work toward removing all roadblocks", Aiyar said "the success of talks has exceeded the boundaries of my boundless optimism".

(Asia Pulse/PTI)

 

 
 



All material on this website is copyright and may not be republished in any form without written permission.
© Copyright 1999 - 2005 Asia Times Online Ltd.
Head Office: Rm 202, Hau Fook Mansion, No. 8 Hau Fook St., Kowloon, Hong Kong
Thailand Bureau: 11/13 Petchkasem Road, Hua Hin, Prachuab Kirikhan, Thailand 77110