Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether India wants Iran to take the responsibility of the gas pipeline passing through Pakistan;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether India also wants to make payments only after gas is received in India;
(d) if so, the details thereof;
(e) the views of Iran in this regard?

ANSWER THE MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI S.M. KRISHNA)

(a) to (e) India has been involved in discussions on the India-Pakistan-Iran (IPI) pipeline project. Among the issues that have been focussed upon relating to the pipeline project are those relating to pricing, transit fee and transportation tariff, point of delivery, project structure and security of the pipeline. 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. India and Iran have agreed for an early meeting of the India-Iran bilateral Joint Working Group on Oil And Gas, which discusses bilateral cooperation in the energy sector, including the IPI Gas pipeline project.

http://www.mea.gov.in/mystart.php?id=220216464.

Lok Sabha

Miscellaneous

South Asia