NEW DELHI The Indian government is examining various pipeline options including deep-water natural gas pipeline for importing gas from Iran, the Lower House of India's Parliament was informed Thursday.

India's Minister of State for Petroleum Santosh Kumar Gangwar said in a written reply to Parliament that "The government of Iran has sent a preliminary proposal to supply natural gas to India through an on-land pipeline route passing through Pakistan."

An India-Iran Joint Committee on transmission of gas from Iran to India has been formed to examine various pipeline options including deep water pipeline and their political, technical and financing aspects, Gangwar said.

Replying to another question, Gangwar said state-owned gas authority of India (GAIL) had held preliminary discussions with the Vavasi Oil and Gas India Ltd. and the Al-Manhal group of Abu-Dhabi for development of gas pipeline system from Gopalpur in Orissa to Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. "The project is in a preliminary stage," he said.

On Indian public sector companies taking up oil and gas exploration and production ventures abroad, Gangwar informed that Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Videsh Ltd. (OVL) is developing two gas fields in Vietnam with British Petroleum of the United Kingdom, Statoil of Norway and Petrovietnam of Vietnam.

The OVL has 45 percent stake in the project and has invested Rls.1.9 billion so far. Gas production has not yet started.

Oil India Ltd. (oil) in partnership with Totalfinaelf of France has taken a participating interest in exploration block of Oman. The company has invested Rls.270 million so far, Gangwar said adding no commercial discovery has been made so far.

(IRNA)