| Iran–Pakistan–India gas pipeline | |
|---|---|
Location of Iran–Pakistan–India gas pipeline |
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| Location | |
| Country | Iran, Pakistan, India |
| From | Asalouyeh |
| Passes through | Bandar-Abbas, Iranshahr, Khuzdar, Sui, Multan |
| To | Delhi |
| General information | |
| Type | natural gas |
| Partners | National Iranian Oil Company, Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited, Sui Southern Gas Company Limited |
| Expected | 2013 |
| Technical information | |
| Length | 2,775 km (1,724 mi) |
| Maximum discharge | 40 billion cubic metres (1.4×1012 cu ft) |
| Diameter | 56 in (1,422 mm) |
The Iran–Pakistan–India gas pipeline, also known as the IPI pipeline or the Peace pipeline, is a proposed pipeline to deliver natural gas from Iran to Pakistan and India.
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The idea was conceived by a young Pakistani civil engineer Malik Aftab Ahmed Khan in mid 1950s, when an article of his was published by the Military College of Engineering, Risalpur. The article "Persian Pipeline" also mentioned the method for its protection along the hostile territory by establishing mini battalion-size cantonments along its proposed route through Baluchistan/Sind.[1][2] The project was conceptualized in 1989 by Rajendra K. Pachauri in partnership with Ali Shams Ardekani, former Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran. Dr Pachauri proposed the plan to both Iranian and Indian governments in 1990. The government of Iran responded positively to the proposal. At the annual conference of the International Association of Energy Economics, 1990, Dr Ardekani backed Dr Pachauri's proposal.[2]
Discussions between the governments of Iran and Pakistan started in 1994.[3] A preliminary agreement was signed in 1995. This agreement foresaw construction of a pipeline from South Pars gas field to Karachi in Pakistan. Later Iran made a proposal to extend the pipeline from Pakistan into India. In February 1999, a preliminary agreement between Iran and India was signed.[4]
In February 2007, India and Pakistan agreed to pay Iran US$4.93 per million British thermal units (US$4.67/GJ) but some details relating to price adjustment remained open to further negotiation.[5]
In April 2008, Iran expressed interest in the People's Republic of China's participation in the project.[6] In August 2010, Iran invited Bangladesh to join the project.[7]
In 2009, India withdrew from the project over pricing and security issues, and after signing a civilian nuclear deal with the United States in 2008.[8][9] However, in March 2010 India called on Pakistan and Iran for trilateral talks to be held in May 2010 in Tehran.[10]
In January 2010, the United States asked Pakistan to abandon the pipeline project. If canceling the project, Pakistan would receive assistance from the United States for construction of a liquefied natural gas terminal and importing electricity from Tajikistan through Afghanistan's Wakhan Corridor.[11] However, on 16 March 2010 in Ankara, Iran and Pakistan signed an agreement on the pipeline.[8] In July 2011, Iran announced that it has completed construction of its section.[12]
The 2,775-kilometre (1,724 mi) pipeline will be supplied from the South Pars field.[8][9][13] It starts from Asalouyeh and stretches 1,172 kilometres (728 mi) through Iran. The Iran's section is known as Iran's 7th cross-country gas pipeline. First 902-kilometre (560 mi) part of this section runs from Asalouyeh to Iranshahr. The second 270-kilometre (170 mi) part runs from Iranshahr to Iran–Pakistan border.[14]
In Pakistan, the pipeline will pass through Baluchistan and Sindh.[8] In Khuzdar, a branch would spur-off to Karachi, while the main pipeline will continue towards Multan. From Multan, the pipeline may be expanded to Delhi.[15] The route in Pakistan may be changed if China will participate in the project.[16]
As there are concerns over the pipeline being attacked by Baluchi insurgents, an alternative offshore route from Iran to the maritime boundary between India and Pakistan off Kutch was proposed. According to this proposal, from there one branch to run to Pakistan while other branch to run to Kutch.[17][18]
The initial capacity of the pipeline was to be 22 billion cubic metres (780 billion cubic feet) of natural gas per year, which was expected to be raised later to 55 billion cubic metres (1.9 trillion cubic feet).[19] However, as a bilateral project between Iran and Pakistan, the pipeline will carry only 8.7 billion cubic metres (310 billion cubic feet) of gas per year as contracted and 40 billion cubic metres (1.4 trillion cubic feet) as a maximum capacity. The pipeline has diameter of 56 inches (1,400 mm).[20] It is expected to cost US$7.5 billion and to be commissioned by 2013.[3][20]
In different times several companies have been interested to build the pipeline. Companies included Gazprom, BHP Billiton, National Iranian Gas Company, Petronas, and Total S.A.. A consortium consisting of Royal Dutch Shell, BG Group, Petronas and an Iranian business group had negotiated on exporting of gas from South Pars to Pakistan. From India, GAIL had been involved.[15] However, according to latest news, the pipeline's section in Iran was built by the National Iranian Gas Company and the section in Pakistan by a consortium of Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited, Sui Southern Gas Company Limited and Italian company Eni.[21] The National Iranian Gas Company has subcontracted part of the construction project to Khatam al-Anbia for US$200-250 million.[14]
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