The Hindu : National : Government committed to Iran pipeline project

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Feb 09, 2006

National

National

Government committed to Iran pipeline project

Special Correspondent

Talks with Pakistan Petroleum Minister on the issue slated next week

New Delhi: The Government remained committed to implementing the proposed Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project, said Petroleum Minister Murli Deora on Wednesday. He said the dialogue on this issue would be taken forward when the Pakistan Petroleum Minister arrived here on February 17.

Mr. Deora highlighted the importance of gas from Iran to meet the country's energy needs. "We are committed to making the project happen," he told reporters here.

He said he would further the dialogue initiated by his predecessor Mani Shankar Aiyar so that the country was able to ensure a secure and continuous supply of natural gas from Iran.

The agenda for the talks with Pakistan's Oil Minister next weekis expected to be project structure, framework agreement, technical and legal issues and political insurance of the pipeline, which would transport about 90 million standard cubic metres per day of gas to India.

On the status of the long term contract for the import of five million tonnes of liquid natural gas (LNG) from Iran annually for 25 years, he said the terms were being negotiated and that he was hopeful of the deal coming through. The LNG deal, signed in June last year, was yet to be ratified by the new regime in Teheran.

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