U.S., sole opponent of IPI pipeline
“The United States opposes any project like this gas pipeline that could bring revenues for Iran,” he told state television.
“Countries in the world are diversifying their energy sources and they do not limit themselves to a single source,” he said.
Nejad-Hosseinian said the IPI project can let Pakistan get new source of income. “We can go ahead with Pakistan even if India pulls out. Our hands are not tied for selling our gas,” he said.
He added that officials from India, Pakistan and Iran will meet in Tehran this week to discuss a pipeline project for the export of Iranian natural gas to South Asia.
The 2,600-kilometer (1,600-mile) pipeline, valued at over seven billion dollars, was first proposed in 1994 but progress has been slowed by tensions between India and Pakistan. India, which imports 70 percent of the oil it consumes, is keen to import natural gas to meet growing energy needs.
The pipeline would supply gas from the massive South Pars offshore fields.
Pakistan has estimated its initial demand at 30 million cubic metres which would double by 2013.
Iran route, most economical for Indian gas supply
An energy expert said here that the proposed pipeline for transfer of Iran’s gas to India is the most economical route.
Ardakani told the international conference dubbed ‘Security and Energy: Asian Vision’ that the pipeline has been known as peace pipeline since 20 years ago and now everybody is optimistic about its implementation.
Ardakani said India and Pakistan consider three options for supplying their needed gas, which includes buying gas from Turkmenistan, with Iran and Qatar as the other two options.
“Iran can take part in the implementation of peace pipeline which will run from Iran to Pakistan and Australia,” he added.
The expert noted that Iran has discovered most of its gas during oil prospecting operations and no independent studies have been carried out on gas reserves.
“The current century has been nicknamed ‘Gas Century’ and, therefore, gas transfer and distribution networks are a necessity for this century,” he noted. Ardakani stated that Iran, Qatar and Russia enjoy 60 percent of the world’s gas and this has necessitated building pipeline to other countries.’