New Delhi. The Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas Shri Murli Deora in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today informed that in order to enhance energy security of the country, import of natural gas is being pursued from Iran through Iran-Pakistan-India(IPI) Gas Pipeline Project. Various important issues concerning the Project are under discussion amongst the participating countries, viz., Iran, Pakistan & India. Such multilateral projects involve protracted discussions, as all the aspects have to be carefully examined and deliberated upon to the satisfaction of the participating countries to protect each country’s interests and to avoid any problems in the future in the successful operation of the project. Implementation of the Project will start only after satisfactory resolution of the issues under discussion amongst the countries participating in the Project.

Shri Deora also said that import of natural gas is being pursued from Turkmenistan as well. India has been formally admitted as a member of Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India(TAPI) gas pipeline project in the 10th Steering Committee Meeting (SCM) of the Project held in Islamabad on April 23-24, 2008. “Various important issues concerning the Project are under discussion amongst the participating countries, viz., Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan & India,” Shri Deora added.

In reply to another question in the House, the Minister of State for Petroleum & Natural Gas Shri Jitin Prasada informed that in recent years, there have been significant technological advancements in the field of Deep Sea Gas transportation technology. Accordingly, for the last few years, interest has been revived in deep sea gas pipeline route from Middle-East to India. Gas supplies from several gas rich countries of Middle East through Gas Gathering pipeline with hub in Oman (or its proximity) have been proposed, so as to supply gas to Indian Coast through the said Deep Sea Pipeline. “GAIL(India) Ltd. has entered into a Principles of Cooperation with M/s SAGE in the month of July 2009 for developing the pipeline Project. As such, the proposal is at its initial stage,” the Minister added.