NEW DELHI: Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Murli Deora is likely to visit Pakistan and Iran to firm up a $145 billion deal to import natural gas from Iran through the proposed Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline.

Mr. Deora, who embarks on a three-nation tour to Syria, Egypt and Algeria from Wednesday, is likely to take up with Pakistan the issue of lowering the transit and transportation fee in tune with the proposals made by India.

Pakistan had indicated softening its stand on the transit and transportation charges and Mr. Deora's visit could possibly help stitch up an informal agreement on the twin issues. "Some dates in the second week of May have been suggested by Pakistan. We are looking at them and will now sit down and finalise the itinerary,'' a senior official said.

Later, Mr. Deora will travel to Iran in view of the new prices offered by Iran for natural gas. It is learnt that Iran has lowered the sale price by almost 30 per cent but everything will be finalised only after the Minister's visit.

It is understood that the oil marketing companies, who owned some blocks in Egypt, had struck oil. Mr. Deora is accompanied by the top brass of the companies, including Oil and Natural Gas Commission chairman R.S. Sharma, Indian Oil Corporation Limited chairman S. Behuria, Gas Authority of India CMD U.D. Chowbey and Engineers India Limited CMD, M. Rohtagi.

In Syria, Mr. Deora will meet his counterpart Souflan Allaw. In addition to ONGC holding interests in two properties, Indian companies would look at the possibility of utilising the next round of bidding for exploration blocks in 2007. In the downstream area, Engineers India is interested in examining a revamp of the Hayan and Banias refineries.

The Indian delegation will reach Algeria on April 20 and Mr. Deora will meet his counterpart Chakib Khelil. Some key agreements are likely to be signed on April 22. In the final leg, Mr. Deora will visit Egypt, arriving at Cairo on April 22. He will return back home on April 25.

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