India puts on hold talks with Pak on Iran pipeline till polls

[t-birds]

Thursday February 07, 2008 (0847 PST)

NEW DELHI: India has put off talks with Pakistan till elections there to resolve transit fee issue that poses hurdles to the implementation of the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline.
Petroleum Minister Murli Deora, on an invitation from his Pakistani counterpart Ahsan Ullah Khan, was to lead a high- level delegation for talks in Islamabad on February 7-8 but was asked to abort the trip till a new government is installed in Pakistan after the February 18 elections, PTI quoted sources as saying.

Pakistan’s demand for a transit fee for allowing passage of Iranian gas to India on top of transportation charges for wheeling the fuel through a 1,035-km pipeline segment in that country had put a pause on negotiations on the IPI pipeline, with New Delhi boycotting trilateral meetings on the issue since July 2007.

Petroleum Secretary M S Srinivasan, ONGC Chairman R S Sharma, GAIL Chairman U D Choubey and IOC Chairman Sarthak Behuria were to accompany Deora on the visit to Islamabad that was supposed to lay grounds for the trilateral meeting called by Iran on February 12-13 in Tehran to seal the pipeline deal.

Sources said since the Pakistan visit was off, the Tehran meet would also not take place. Deora may visit Islamabad in early March to resolve the transit fee issue and later mount a delegation to Tehran for finalisation of IPI pipeline. PTI During the past seven months, Pakistan has concluded with Iran negotiations on all technical and commercial aspects of gas sales but could not sign a bilateral gas import deal as Tehran insists on joining of the politically stable India, which has high demand, for the project to take off.

End.

 

[t-birds]

Can anyone please tell me why should Pakistan include India, when they consistantly try to delay the project, when we could involve the Chinese, which are more friendly and cooperative...?

 

[Proud to be Pakistani]

Because Pakistan is only taking transit fees and the supply of Gas is meant for India.

Pakistan will have an option of Gas supply but specifically it is meant for India.

 

[IceCold]

Because Pakistan is only taking transit fees and the supply of Gas is meant for India.

Pakistan will have an option of Gas supply but specifically it is meant for India.

What about our depleting gas sources. I heard i'm not sure the name of the minister saying on geo when questioned about gas shortage in pakistan specially the CNG stations, he said this is nothing to what will happen if we did not go further with this project by 2012.

 

[Energon]

IMO the plan will have to be put on hold until most of western Pakistan stabilizes. Hopefully after the elections the level of turmoil will reduce rapidly and perhaps in a few months things will go back to normal.

 

[Neo]

IPI gas project: India says important issues under discussion ​

NEW DELHI (March 01 2008): Indian Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister, Murli Deora has said that important issues concerning implementation of Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) transitional gas pipeline are under discussion among the participating countries.

On safety and security of the pipeline, he said: "All responsibility for safety and security of the pipeline within Iran will vest with Iran. Safety and security of pipeline and gas within Pakistan will be provided by Pakistan government for which a transit fee would be levied."

"Discussions regarding security package by Pakistan government and transit fee are continuing," Deora told Lok Sabha. He said suitable provisions would be included in contract with Pakistan for safety and security of pipeline. "It has been agreed that pipeline proposed to be laid in Iran, Pakistan and India will be constructed as per international standards, incorporating all safety features.

It is envisaged to provide round-the-clock communication and supervisory control system all along pipeline," Deora said. He felt such multilateral projects involve protracted discussions, as all aspects have to be carefully examined and deliberated upon to satisfaction of participating countries to protect each country's interests and avoid any problem in future in successful operation of the project. "No official communication has been received regarding China joining Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline project," he added.

Business Recorder [Pakistan's First Financial Daily]

 

[Neo]

IPI gas project: India still considering cost, security aspects ​

ISLAMABAD (March 01 2008): Expectations in Pakistan that in the next few months India is likely to sign an agreement on Pakistan-India-Iran gas pipeline receded further in the eyes of one participant who was present at the talk given by Satyabrata Pal, the Indian High Commissioner, at the Oxbridge society on Friday.

Amir Usman, former petroleum minister, President of the Oxbridge Society presided over the event. The India High Commissioner spoke on, 'India's energy requirements'. He hinted, India was still considering cost and security aspects of the project.

This could be a diplomatic method of saying that his country would not be pressed into hurry to conclude the agreement. In fact it was indicated in a recent meeting of the appropriate Senate Standing Committee that the agreement on the gas pipeline - between three countries Pakistan, India, and Iran - was likely to be signed within the next few months.

One also divined from the Indian High Commissioner's talk that India was increasingly more interested in the pipeline originating at Turkmenistan. Of course the pipeline was important but the need for gas in India was small; "the economic price did not make economic sense," Satyabrata Pal remarked during the talk.

Nonetheless, he indicated that the perception in Pakistan that India's progress was slow in this matter he was quick to refer to 'historic' reasons as the cause for this delay. In his view, things might change after continued monitoring of the subject.

Replying a question, the High Commissioner said that two years ago his country's planning commission had projected that nuclear power might grow about 5 to 6 percent. But did India have sufficient fuel to meet nuclear energy requirements when it increased? That is why we wanted the deal with the USA, he replied.

He said Niger was a good source for meeting his country's uranium requirements. An Indian commercial firm was considering investing $5 billion in Niger for this very reason and the deal might go through.

He disagreed with a participant that India was purchasing more arms from the US. In reply, he said it was so much apples and oranges. "India could always purchase more reactors, and in any way, we want to go forward with the nuclear deal with the US but within the context of India's domestic policies," he sadi.

The High Commissioner stated that Tharparkar coal in Pakistan was of a much better grade than India and promised to cooperate with Pakistan in helping it to increase its energy potential through utilising coal reserves.

Indians are working towards cleaner coal energy products in association with a South Asian firm. He said India was investing and experimenting ahead with more sources of energy, including thorium mix, hydrogen sources, hydel power, wind and solar energy.

In southern India air turbines were fastened behind palm trees and additional electricity generated from this source are pummelled in the grid system to meet needs of more villages. He also informed the audience that solar tubes fixed on the terrace of village homes also generated electric power.

Although Amir Usman in his introductory remarks alluded to Pakistan, Iran, India, gas pipeline, the High Commissioner, as suits a diplomat, quite dextrously evaded the subject. This elicited a remark from Irshadullah Khan, secretary General of Oxford and Cambridge Society that obviously India sent its best diplomatic minds to Pakistan and lesser minds to the USA.

Business Recorder [Pakistan's First Financial Daily]

 

[IceCold]

I highly doubt india will ever gonna reach an agreement following pakistan in it and that too if something has to go through pakistan. I think now its about time pakistan and iran make a decision to whether they still wana wait and delay the project or perhaps pakistan and iran could carry on with it on their on without involving india in it.

 

[Astra]

I do not suggest India going ahead with the project. Going on by the rate of blasts in Pakistan, I doubt the oil will ever reach India.

Instead, we can invenst of Procuring large container ships which are relatively safe and will be protected by our Navy.

 

[IceCold]

I do not suggest India going ahead with the project. Going on by the rate of blasts in Pakistan, I doubt the oil will ever reach India.

Instead, we can invenst of Procuring large container ships which are relatively safe and will be protected by our Navy.

Perhaps a very good idea, but why cant your leaders just spill it out of their mouths? Why do they still wana carry on the two boats at the same time?

 

[Tiki Tam Tam]

Perhaps a very good idea, but why cant your leaders just spill it out of their mouths? Why do they still wana carry on the two boats at the same time?

That sadly is what is called realpolitiks!

 

[t-birds]

Pipeline deal 'soon', says India

The pipeline is crucial for India's energy supplies

India will soon sign an agreement with Iran and Pakistan to construct a multi-billion dollar gas pipeline, its petroleum minister has said.

Murli Deora said some "minor problems" over the pipeline had been sorted out.

The pipeline will transport gas from Iran to India through Pakistan, and is seen as crucial to Indian energy needs.

Analysts say the pipeline could contribute to regional security as Iran, Pakistan and India would depend on each other more.

A deal has been stalled by disputes over transit fees and security issues.

Mr Deora, who attended a meeting of leading oil exporting countries in Saudi Arabia, told an Indian news channel that the agreement to construct the pipeline would be signed "very soon".

"There were... some issues with Pakistan that have been taken care of," he said.

In April, Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, had told the Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, that all obstacles holding up the long-delayed project would be resolved within 45 days.

The 2,600-km (1,620-mile) pipeline would initially transport 60 cubic metres of gas (2.2bn cubic feet) a day.

The Indian government has said the project is feasible, but needs to be financially viable with assured supplies.

India has boycotted trilateral meetings since mid-2007, saying it wants to resolve the issues of transit fees and transportation tariffs with its long-standing regional rival Pakistan first.

 

[Tiki Tam Tam]

And what has the US to say about it?

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

And what has the US to say about it?

Sign the Nuclear Deal already!

 

[IceCold]

Pipeline deal 'soon', says India

The pipeline is crucial for India's energy supplies

India will soon sign an agreement with Iran and Pakistan to construct a multi-billion dollar gas pipeline, its petroleum minister has said.

Murli Deora said some "minor problems" over the pipeline had been sorted out.

The pipeline will transport gas from Iran to India through Pakistan, and is seen as crucial to Indian energy needs.

Analysts say the pipeline could contribute to regional security as Iran, Pakistan and India would depend on each other more.

A deal has been stalled by disputes over transit fees and security issues.

Mr Deora, who attended a meeting of leading oil exporting countries in Saudi Arabia, told an Indian news channel that the agreement to construct the pipeline would be signed "very soon".

"There were... some issues with Pakistan that have been taken care of," he said.

In April, Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, had told the Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, that all obstacles holding up the long-delayed project would be resolved within 45 days.

The 2,600-km (1,620-mile) pipeline would initially transport 60 cubic metres of gas (2.2bn cubic feet) a day.

The Indian government has said the project is feasible, but needs to be financially viable with assured supplies.

India has boycotted trilateral meetings since mid-2007, saying it wants to resolve the issues of transit fees and transportation tariffs with its long-standing regional rival Pakistan first.

For now i'll have to take it with the pinch of salt. Reason being that as soon as india's new master tells it to stop, india will raise another issue or for that matter maybe fake an attack on the parliment who knows, but i dont see it happening.
Pakistan should go for the chinese option, sending a pipe line from iran through pakistan to china. India needs to be booted out as its just a waste of time, the project has already be delayed, it is not possible to delay it any further.