Pakistan-Iran Gas Pipeline (IPI) News

[Judas Iscariote]

Iran to welcome Gazprom in IPI gas project

TEHRAN (May 01 2007): Iran suggested on Monday that it would welcome any Gazprom involvement in a proposed $7 billion gas pipeline to India via Pakistan, with a senior official saying it would speed progress.

Gholamhossein Nozari, managing director of the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), did not say whether Iran had been in contact with the Russian energy giant Gazprom on the issue or give details on what kind of participation he had in mind.

"Gazprom is a capable and big company and if it enters the peace pipeline it will help with the progress and speed up the operation," he was quoted as saying by the ISNA news agency, referring to the planned energy link from Iran to India.

An Indian official said earlier last month New Delhi had yet to take a final decision on the pipeline from Iran via Pakistan, which has been opposed by the United States.

The pipeline project, which aims to feed the growing energy needs of the subcontinent, has made slow progress also in part due to political tensions between India and Pakistan. Apart from the pipeline, New Delhi is also negotiating with Iran to secure a deal that would see Tehran supply 5 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) a year over a 25-year-period from 2009.

http://www.brecorder.com/index.php?i...term=&supDate=

[Judas Iscariote]

I;m sure Pakistan is behind this idea, it would give a boost to Pak-Russia relations and open up new opportunities, the project is huge!

Spooky that its in the news, I told a friend last week that Pakistan at some point would include Gazprom to get closer to Russia.
Neo can foresee the future now...lol

[malaymishra123]

Nah Neo, Pakistan is not the force behind including Gazprom. Iran has been stating for a LOOONG time, that it would welcome any potential Russian involvement. India too has no qualms in this. Its Iran thats bringing Gazprom, should the Russian company decide to get involved.

[Judas Iscariote]

You could be right but still we should use this widow of opportunity to get closer to Russia.
Money talks, $7 billion is huge.

[Judas Iscariote]

Gazprom confirms interest in IPI gas pipeline

TEHRAN (May 06 2007): Gazprom is interested in taking part in building and managing a proposed 7 billion dollars gas pipeline from Iran to India via Pakistan, an official of the Russian energy giant was quoted as saying on Saturday. Iran, India and Pakistan are expected to sign a key agreement on pricing in June that will help the pipeline project take off.

But an Indian official said in April that New Delhi had yet to take a final decision on the pipeline from Iran via Pakistan, which has been opposed by the United States. "One of the big projects Russia can play a role in is the pipeline that transfers Iranian gas to Pakistan and India," the head of Gazprom's office in Tehran, Abubakir Shamuzov told Shana, the Iranian oil ministry's web site.

"This pipeline can even go as far as to China because this region has a big population and is a big market," he said. "I believe this pipeline should be constructed and Gazprom will most likely be a partner of this project."

Last month, a senior Iranian official suggested it would welcome any Gazprom involvement in the planned gas link, saying it would speed progress.

Gholamhossein Nozari, Managing Director of the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), did not say whether Iran had been in contact with the Russian firm on the issue or give details on what kind of participation he had in mind. The pipeline project, which aims to feed the growing energy needs of the subcontinent, has made slow progress in past due to political tensions between India and Pakistan.

Washington accusing Tehran of developing a covert nuclear weapons programme, has repeatedly sought to discourage India from the project. Russia is Iran's closest big power ally and has helped to water down UN sanctions against Tehran.

Iran sits atop the world's second largest gas reserves after Russia. But sanctions, politics and construction delays have slowed its gas development and analysts say it is unlikely to become a major exporter for a decade.

Apart from the pipeline, New Delhi is also negotiating with Iran to secure a deal that would see Tehran supply five million tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) a year over a 25-year-period from 2009.

http://www.brecorder.com/index.php?i...term=&supDate=

[Interceptor]

Indian MPs slam US Congress on N-deal row


NEW DELHI, May 4: Indian MPs from both left and right united on Friday to denounce US legislators for what they said was an attempt to influence foreign policy through a controversial nuclear trade deal.

The lawmakers criticised letters written by Democratic and Republican legislators warning Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that New Delhi’s ties with Iran had significant potential to harm India-US relations and the landmark deal.

“We must send a very strong message to the US Senators and Congressmen that this will not prevail,” Yashwant Sinha, foreign minister in the previous Hindu nationalist-led government, told parliament. “We are not going to tolerate this,” he said.

The angry reactions from Mr Sinha and his colleagues in the upper house of parliament came after details of the latest letter from the congressmen were published in an Indian newspaper on Friday.

The letter --- signed by Democrat Tom Lantos, chairman of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, senior Republican Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and others --- was the third, and strongest, in recent days expressing concern over relations between New Delhi and Tehran.—Reuters

http://www.dawn.com/2007/05/05/top14.htm

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The source shows indirectly views of Iran-India ties that are a growing issue in Washington, the US forign policy against Iran is to cease all support from out side and it has halted the Nuclear technology program enslisted for India. The IPI pipe line has made efforts to gain Nuclear technology form the US hard the possible steps for India are it could step out of the IPI pipe line and instead go for the Nuclear technology. However, decision makers in Dehli are showing opposition towards the Nuclear deal with US. India is not a signitory of the NPT and therefore has an open scenario in advancing its Nuclear weapons capability, the Nuclear capability of India is growing at a rapid pace by European and Russian support. India has interest in the IPI but it also has Interest in Nuclear technology from the US.

[Nafees]

TEHRAN, Dec 20 (APP): Pakistan and Iran on Wednesday agreed to speed up efforts to finalize the Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) Gas Pipeline Project and coordinate activities for the reconstruction in Afghanistan. Foreign Minister, Khurshid M. Kasuri held formal talks with his Iranian counterpart Manouchehr Mottaki here Wednesday and exchanged views on bilateral, regional and international issues.

The talks were preceded by a brief one to one meeting between the two Foreign Ministers.
During the talks between the two Foreign Ministers, they reviewed various aspects of Pakistan-Iran bilateral relations and expressed their resolve to further consolidate political, economic and trade relations between the two countries.
They also expressed their resolve to continue their efforts against terrorism and organized crime.
Referring to the IPI gas pipeline project, Foreign Minister Kasuri stated that implementation of the gas pipeline project will bring Pakistan and Iran closer and will vest the friendly relationship between the two countries with economic content.
He reiterated Pakistan’s determination for the implementation of the project.
Foreign Minister Kasuri underlined that Pakistan attached great importance to its relations with Iran which were rooted in common culture, religion and a shared view of a number of regional and international issues.
The leadership of the two countries has been exchanging views on all matters of regional and international interest.
The frequency of high level visits between the two countries marks the depth and strength of relationship between Iran and Pakistan, he said.
On Afghanistan, the Foreign Minister underlined that peace and stability in Afghanistan was in the interest of Pakistan as well as the entire region and called for closer Pakistan-Iran cooperation in this regard.
He pointed out that Pakistan and Iran, being the neighbouring countries of Afghanistan could play an important role along with the international community in the reconstruction of Afghanistan.
The Iranian Foreign Minister referred to the deep-rooted historical and cultural ties between the two countries and expressed Iran’s keenness to further promote these relations particularly in the field of economic and trade.
Foreign Minister Mottaki expressed his satisfaction over the exchange of visits at various levels over the past few months emphasizing that such visits make an important contribution towards further expanding relations between the two neighbouring states.
Second round of talks will be held tomorrow. Later in the day, the Foreign Minister called on Chairman Expediency Council Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani.
During the meeting the Foreign Minister highlighted the abiding bonds of friendship between the governments and the peoples of Iran and Pakistan, underlining that close cooperation between the two countries can contribute towards the establishment of peace and stability in the region.
The Foreign Minister also briefed Rafsanjani on Pakistan’s position on Iran’s nuclear issue and Afghanistan, as well as Iraq and Lebanon.
On his part Ayatollah Rafsanjani stated that Pakistan-Iran friendship and cooperation can contribute towards creating unity within the Muslim Ummah, which in turn can resolve the problems being faced by the Ummah.
The Ambassador of Pakistan, Shafkat Saeed, accompanying Pakistan delegation and senior officials of the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs were also present during the talks.
The Foreign Minister of Iran also hosted a lunch in honour of the Foreign Minister of Pakistan and his delegation.
In the afternoon, Foreign Minister Kasuri flew to Kermanshah in a special aircraft, provided by the Iranian government, for a meeting with President Ahmadinejad who is touring Kermanshah Province.

Source: Associated Press of Pakistan

[solid snake]

It's about time this thing is finalized and brought into being. India needs to get its act together and stop dragging its feet over this important matter.

[AgNoStIc MuSliM]

I thought I read a statement attributed to the Iranians that they wanted to wait until a new government is elected.

A wise move on their part were it so, for our politicians have sullied their reputations to the point that even important, extremely beneficial and necessary projects like these require caution.

[ahussains]

By the end of this the supplies will be being if this happend that will be a very nice effort by the both coutry beacause Gas is very nessecary for us and we have a very nice infrastrutre of supply of Natural Gas in Pakistan

[Salim]

I don't think that the IPI is a critical issue.

Road Runner has given a copious post that indicates that Qatar and UAE is funnel gas to Pakistan in abundance to offset.

[HAIDER]

Islamabad, Feb 12: China has expressed its willingness to join Pakistan and Iran in the proposed Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline if India backs out, a leading daily reported.

Daily Times quoted sources as saying that China has told Pakistan that it was interested in importing the additional gas if India did not join the project.

Differences remain between India and Pakistan over transit fee for the pipeline and New Delhi rejected an offer to negotiate this month, saying it would proceed with talks after the February 18 elections in Pakistan.

However, Pakistan and Iran may sign the agreement on February 24, a date proposed by Iran, signalling that even Tehran wanted to negotiate with an elected government in Islamabad, the sources said.

Pakistan plans to import 2.2 billion cubic feet of gas a day from Iran under the project, and has said it was willing to consume an additional 1.05 billion cubic feet if India did not join the project.

They said Iran had no objection to exporting gas to China.

If China joined the project, the pipeline might pass through Gilgit, they said, where Pakistan has already approved a project to widen the Karakoram Highway. Pakistan also plans to extend a railway track to China to connect it to the Gwadar port. Chinese experts would visit Pakistan to finalise the route of the pipeline if it joined the project, the sources added.

--- UNI
China ready to join IPI pipeline project : Paper @ NewKerala.Com News Channel

[jeypore]

TEHRAN (AFP) — Iran's oil minister called on India to play a more active role in development of a multi-billion dollar gas pipeline from Iran to Pakistan and India, semi-official Mehr newsagency reported.

"In the light of the many wasted opportunities in the pipeline project because of stalling by India, we asked this country to be more active," Gholam Hossein Nozari said after meeting Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

The 7.5 billion dollar project for the 2,600 kilometre (1,600 miles) Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) pipeline was launched in 1994 but has been held up by disagreements between India and Pakistan.

Iran and Pakistan agreed last month to go ahead with the pipeline on a bilateral basis.

Mukherjee, who was in Tehran for an official visit, said India "has no intention of quitting the project," Mehr reported.

He also raised the possibility of a three-way meeting between Iran, Pakistan and India, though no date has yet been set.

New Delhi has been under pressure from the United States not to do business with Iran, viewed in Washington as a state sponsor of terrorism that is bent on acquiring nuclear weapons.

Iran holds the world's second largest gas reserves after Russia but remains a small-scale exporter because of heavy domestic consumption and the lack of exploitation of some of its gas fields.
AFP: Iran asks India to be more active in gas pipeline plan

[RescueRanger]

Already being discussed in another thread!

[Killer]

Looks like Indian government is reluctant to move forward on this deal.