US lobbies Pakistan to drop IP project

US State Department spokeswoman, Victoria Nuland

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/223387.html

The United States has urged Pakistan to abandon the Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline project promising Washington will help Islamabad with the consequences of the decision.

Spokeswoman of the US State Department Victoria Nuland said on Friday that Pakistan was “one of the countries that we're working with, primarily from the US Embassy," to stop buying gas from Iran.

On December 31, 2011, US President Barack Obama signed into law new sanctions against Iran, which seek to penalize foreign institutions that do business with Iran's central bank and oil sector.

"We're talking to countries around the world about the implications of this legislation and our efforts to cut global dependence on Iran," Nuland added.

Asked if Washington is encouraging Pakistan to buy cheaper gas from US companies, she said, "I don't have anything specific on where those conversations are leading, but we are talking about all kinds of diversification."

An article published by the International Herald Tribune on Wednesday noted that Washington is trying to lure Islamabad away from the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project by offering cheaper gas to the country.

The article added that the US has stepped up efforts to lobby Pakistan to abandon not only the IP gas pipeline project, but also liquefied natural gas (LNG) purchases from its western neighbor in return for cheaper gas from US.

Pakistan's Foreign Office announced on Thursday that the gas pipeline project between the country and Iran did not come under the sanctions imposed on Tehran because of its nuclear program.

"Pakistan is committed to the Pak-Iran gas pipeline and sanctions do not cover this project," Foreign Office Spokesman Abdul Basit added.

The multi-billion-dollar Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline aims to export a daily amount of 21.5 million cubic meters (or 8.7 billion cubic meters per year) of Iranian natural gas to Pakistan.

Maximum daily gas transfer capacity of the 56-inch pipeline which runs over 900 km of Iran's soil from Asalouyeh in Bushehr Province to the city of Iranshahr in Sistan and Baluchestan Province has been given at 110 million cubic meters.

Iran has already constructed more than 900 kilometers of the pipeline on its soil.

Despite sanctions, India wants IPI talks with Iran

Source: PressTV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=121310§ionid=351020103


As India's petroleum ministry announced proposals to restart direct “bilateral' talks with Iran regarding the long-delayed Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) natural gas pipeline project, the country's ministry of external affairs has called for a deep sea alternative pipeline from Iran.

India's Petroleum Secretary S. Sundareshan announced yesterday, "We have proposed dates for holding technical level talks in Tehran in May," regarding the IPI project which is envisaged to carry some 60 million cubic meters (2.12 billion cubic feet) of gas every day.

The IPI pipeline is expected to provide a route for the supply of natural gas from Iran to Pakistan and India. However, India's distrust of the security of supplies through the territory of its rival Pakistan led it to walk away from the talks in 2008, while Iran and Pakistan continued to discuss the project.

Now the Indians want to re-enter the project, subject to certain conditions, centered around pricing and delivery point, according to India's Business Standard.

“We want to address these issues before we sign up for the IPI pipeline deal," said S. Sundareshan, who also described the price quoted by Iran as “high and not affordable."

The paper reported that India wants Iran to be responsible for the safe transport of the natural gas through the 1,035-km (643-mile) pipeline in Pakistan. It also wants to pay for the fuel only when it is delivered at the India-Pakistan border.

Meanwhile Indian Express reported Saturday that the country's MEA has called for India to withdraw from the IPI project and instead discuss the establishment of a deep sea pipeline with Iran which would bypass Pakistan altogether.

“In view of the complicated relationship between India and Pakistan, the Ministry of External Affairs does not advise meeting between India and Pakistan for further discussions on the project... the deep-sea pipeline option may not involve Pakistan and, therefore, the same can be pursued," MEA officials said at a meeting last week to decide India's position on the IPI pipeline.

This view was met with approval from India's National Security Council Secretariat, which warned that the IPI pipeline would be a potential target for “India-centric terror groups in Pakistan."

Earlier, the Indian inter-ministerial group of bureaucrats meeting on March 9 had decided to meet Iranian officials to discuss upstream gas exploration and development.

According to Indian Express, the meeting was told that while “Iran is internationally isolated due to continuing sanctions, any wholehearted engagement in Iran may emerge as an area of friction between India and the West," yet "there was unanimity that in view of the energy security of the country, India does need to continue to engage with Iran."

It is thought the planned May talks between Indian and Iranian officials will cover both alternatives.

According to Oil and Gas Journal, with some 29.6 trillion cubic meters (1,045 trillion cubic feet) of proved reserves, Iran has the second largest stocks of natural gas in the world, and India's rapidly growing economy is in need of a secure and long-term source of gas.

US targets Iran-Pakistan gas deal

Source: PressTV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=116170§ionid=351020103


Washington says it would help Islamabad secure liquefied natural gas supplies, should it abandon a planned gas deal with Iran.

Richard Holbrooke, Washington's special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan made the offer during a meeting with Pakistan's Energy Minister Naveed Qamar in Islamabad, UPI reported on Thursday.

Last year, Iran and Pakistan agreed on a comprehensive deal on the long-stalled Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) pipeline.

Pakistan will receive 750 million cubic feet of natural gas per day from Iran through the pipeline, as part of the 25-year deal.

The attempt to prevent the launch of the IPI gas pipeline is part of Washington's efforts to put economic pressure on Iran over Tehran's nuclear program.

Washington and its Western allies accuse Iran of pursuing a military nuclear program — a charge Tehran has repeatedly denied.

Iran says its nuclear program is solely aimed at the peaceful application of the technology.