India, Iran studying Indian Ocean gas pipeline
TEHRAN, Feb 25 (AFP) - An Indian delegation is to visit Iran to discuss
the possibility of building an Indian Ocean pipeline to ship Iranian liquified
natural gas to the subcontinent, Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi said Thursday.
Kharazi, in an interview with the official IRNA news agency in New
Delhi, where the foreign minister is on a visit, said discussions were
held with Indian officials on LNG purchases and the possibility of building
a pipeline.
"India will be needing a lot of energy fuel in the future and
therefore this is a sound basis for Tehran-New Delhi ties," he said.
"An Indian delegation is expected to visit Tehran to study the
possibility of laying a gas pipeline grid to India and the finalization
of liquified gas purchases," he added.
Kharazi said a pipeline through the Indian Ocean "seems to be
the most practical plan." "Laying the gas pipeline grid through
Pakistan, which would need the sanction of the three nations, as a second
possibility is under study," he added.
The foreign minister also said agreement had been reached for Iran
to invest an additional 12 million dollars in an oil refinery in the southern
Indian city of Madras.
Links
