Pakistan to Buy Iranian Gas: Jamali
"Tehran has proposed laying of gas pipeline between Iran and Pakistan and we accepted the proposal and now technical teams will work out details," Hi Pakistan quoted Jamali while addressing a pressing conference in Islamabad on his return from a three-day visit to Tehran.
"If there were any irritants and misunderstandings between the two countries, they have been removed during my highly successful visit," the official added.
In addition, yesterday Hindustan Times quoted a senior Pak Petroleum Ministry official as saying on condition of anonymity that Jamali has accepted an offer from Tehran to lay a gas pipeline to South Asia, saying Pakistan would guarantee India uninterrupted supply if it joined the project.
However, the project would go ahead even if India declined to be involved, the source told the Daily.
Pakistan has also been mulling over two other gas projects to import gas from Turkmenistan and Qatar. The first would carry natural gas from Turkmenistan across Afghanistan to Pakistan, which can be extended to India while the latter aims to supply the country from southeast.
Turkmenistan is seeking ways to persuade New Delhi to take 1,460-km pipeline, as well. Nevertheless, India has shown little interest to the project because of security concerns over unsustainable Afghanistan and other.
The $3 billion project of laying 2,600-km pipeline from Iran to India could help India overcome its energy deficit while Pakistan also would enjoy drawing gas from the same pipeline, which helps save about one billion dollars. Pakistan can earn an estimated $ 600 million annually in transit fees.
Last week Munawar Baseer Ahmad, managing director of Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), said that a proposal has been given to the Pak government for joining the Iranian gas network with Pakistan’s, which would save over $1 billion. AF/IS END MNA